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One in every three American women develops heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
From the experts
Q: “I’ve tried to quit smoking several times, but it never sticks. With Oregon’s new smoking ban in effect, I’m ready to be done with it. Are there any new drugs or programs that can improve my results? What is the most effective, proven way to quit for good?”
Answer from Meera Jain, M.D., co-medical director, Providence Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program:
Women – if you think that heart disease is something you don’t need to worry about, you could be tragically mistaken. This is one disease that most women know far too little about, and it affects far too many of us.
The risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart attack can be both obvious and hidden.– By James Beckerman, M.D., cardiologist
One of the keys to avoiding heart disease could be sitting right on your dinner plate. Throughout February, Providence experts will dish out great advice on how to protect your heart – join them at our Get the Dish on Heart Health forums. Here is a quick taste of what you’ll learn from cardiologist Alicia Ross, M.D., and dietitian Kimra Hawk, RD, LD.
One in three U.S. women will develop heart disease. That's why we think it's so important for both men and women to learn the basics about prevention. While there are a few risk factors that are genetic and cannot be changed, many behaviors that raise the risk of heart disease can be changed.
The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body. Located almost in the center of the chest, the adult human heart is about the size of a fist.
At an average rate of 80 times a minute, the heart beats about 115,000 times in one day or 42 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 3 billion times – pumping an amount of blood that equals about 1 million barrels. Even at rest, the heart continuously works hard.
Answers to frequently asked questions about the PET/CT procedure.
Lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your chance of heart attack or stroke.
It is always important to consult with your physician before starting an exercise program. This is particularly true if any of the following apply to your current medical condition:
To determine the number of calories and fat grams you need to consume each day in order to lose or gain weight, consult your physician or a registered dietitian. To maintain your current weight, follow the formula below.
If you are trying to make heart-healthy changes to your lifestyle and diet, it is helpful to know some basics about nutrition – starting with the components of food.
Regular, aerobic physical activity increases a person’s capacity for exercise and plays a role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Aerobic exercise may also help to lower blood pressure.
Determining how much you should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at an insurance height-weight chart, but includes considering the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in your body's composition. The amount of fat is the critical measurement.
What health risks are associated with physical inactivity? Lack of physical activity has clearly been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Facts about smoking and cardiovascular disease:
Patients may be reluctant to raise the subject, a candid conversation can ease their worries. – By James Beckerman, M.D., cardiologist
You already know that smoking is unhealthy. The word has been out since the first Surgeon General’s Report in 1964. One out of four smokers will die from their tobacco addiction. More than 420,000 will die this year. It is the single most preventable cause of death or illness in our country.
Imagine, for a moment, being inside your lungs, watching the millions of tiny hairs called cilia do their job of filtering out impurities. Then, observe as the smoke from one cigarette invades the lungs, paralyzing the cilia for 24 hours.
Let’s get specific: Reivew this chart to remind yourself of the risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
For women under 35 with no serious risk factors for heart disease: The low-dose birth control pill and birth control ring do not appear to increase the risk of heart disease. However, women who use the birth control patch may be exposed to more estrogen and this may increase the risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Women who use high-dose birth control pills (more than 50 micrograms of estrogen) are at greater risk of heart disease.
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