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For Immediate Release
February 27, 2002
Letter to the Editor
The Times
Contact: Bonnie Hartman Arkus 609-771-9600
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. In the United States, one woman dies every minute from heart disease. Half of all deaths among women will be from heart disease. Heart attack is an acute form of heart disease that occurs when an artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. This can result in permanent damage to the heart muscle. Half of those who suffer a heart attack die before they even reach the hospital. Heart attacks are especially lethal for women who smoke - a subgroup with higher mortality.
Congestive heart failure is a chronic form of heart disease. According to the Office on Aging, 400,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people over 65 and it costs our country well over $10 billion annually. Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and toxins that affect the heart muscle - such as alcohol - are all causes of congestive heart failure.
The death rate in women from heart disease continues to rise while men's is on the decline, and the gap between men's and women's survival is growing. How we address women's heart health and wellness affects quality of life and how healthcare dollars are spent for many years.
The Women's Heart Foundation was founded June 11, 1992 to address the needs of women with heart disease. The Women's Heart Foundation has developed new programs to help women fight their number one killer with Women's Heart Week February 1-7 to raise awareness and a new program for 2002 - Medication Safety Week April 1-7 to address use of prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs and herbal products. WHF supports women on the web with Ask the Nurse email service. To date, the website has posted 10 pages of email questions with responses to women's concerns and receives about 40 emails per day more with requests for information. WHF's website receives 700 - 1,000 hits per day. People around the world are seeking out gender-specific health information on the WHF website, the two most visited pages being Dietary Supplements and Alcohol and the Heart.
In 2001, the Women's Heart Foundation provided free health screenings at four health fairs and at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, participated in Trenton: a City with Heart campaign, gave numerous lectures promoting heart health and wellness, conducted a health seminar for nurses and administered the Women's Cardiovascular Initiative for Mercer County. This April, WHF is honored to have been invited to present on its new program Healthy Hearts for Caring Communities - an agenda for faith-based wellness - at the Healthy People 2010 conference in Washington, DC.
Look for the Women's Heart Foundation at the community booth at Quaker Bridge Mall this Saturday offering free screenings and assistance in completing a complimentary Personal Health Record called 'Cards4Life'. We'll also have free information on heart healthy eating with recipe cards.
WHF is here to help you to Take Care of Your Heart.
Bonnie Hartman Arkus-end-
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©1999-2000; updates: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 Women's Heart Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. The information contained in this Women's Heart Foundation (WHF) Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and WHF recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional. |