Providence Women and Heart Disease Program
Forms & Information
One in every three American women develops heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
In this guide, you will find important information that will help you better understand what to expect while you are at the hospital and what to expect when you return home following open heart surgery and/or a heart attack.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can be found in all parts of your body. It aids in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol in your blood comes from two sources: the foods you eat and your liver. However, your liver makes all of the cholesterol your body needs.
If you smoke, one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health is to quit smoking. Providence Health & Services supports you in this effort. The resources below can help you stop smoking for good.
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:
I read in the news recently about a blood test involving C-reactive protein that can predict your risk of heart disease. How does this test differ from cholesterol screening? Should I ask my doctor to give me this test when I go for my next physical?
What pain medicines are safe to use for headaches? With all the recent recalls and new safety warnings, I’m worried that I may be risking a stroke or heart attack every time I take something to get rid of a headache.
Q: The weather has been so bad, I’ve basically been a couch potato. Now that the weather’s improving, I want to get out this weekend and get active. How should I begin an exercise program?
Everyone gets motivated to get more active when the summer sun comes out. Before you get started, make sure you’re setting yourself up for success and preventing injury by considering these tips from our experts.
Q: Ever since a hysterectomy, I've taken estrogen to help with menopausal symptoms and to prevent heart disease – my mother died of a heart attack. But I heard about a study that said estrogen doesn't really protect against cardiovascular problems. What's going on?
Q: A friend forwarded an email to me about what to do if you're alone and you think you're having a heart attack. It says that coughing hard will squeeze the heart and keep the blood flowing until you can get help. It also says that women may experience strange symptoms, like a pain in the jaw, instead of chest pain. Is any of this true? Answer provided by Suzanne M. Hall, M.D., FACC, medical director of Providence Women and Heart Disease Program at Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, and cardiologist with Columbia Cardiology Associates.
More women than men die of heart disease. Surprised? Many people are. Because their symptoms often go unrecognized, women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men. Heart disease kills more than 500,000 women a year — with one life lost every minute, that’s a number we’re determined to reduce.
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.
Lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your chance of heart attack or stroke.
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:
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.
Following are common questions about the relationship of nutrition to heart health, answered by Valerie Edwards, M.S., R.D., L.D., outpatient nutrition therapist, Providence Nutrition Services.
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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