Women's Heart Health Program at Mercer Bucks
Today, more than ever, women need to be aware of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is an issue that should be brought to the forefront of every woman’s mind; however, most women are not even aware of their risk factors for this disease.
Did you know? |
- There are 8 million women in the U.S. currently living with heart disease.
- 1 out of 2 women will die of cardiovascular disease, compared to the 1 out of 25 who will die of breast cancer.
- Over 60% of women who die suddenly have no prior heart problems.
- The survival rate of those who suffer heart attacks has improved over the last several decades, but the majority of progress has been made with men.
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To help improve the cardiovascular health of women, Penn Cardiac Care at Mercer Bucks introduces the Women’s Heart Health Program. The Women’s Heart Health Program’s mission is to help improve the cardiac health of women by offering free screenings, comprehensive risk factor assessments and the knowledge to create healthy lives and lifestyles.
Women's Heart Health Program Services Include: |
- Free Screening
- Comprehensive risk factor assessment
- Risk factor management
- Cardiac diagnostic evaluation
- Education
- Hormone therapy discussion
- Treatment of heart disease
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What is Heart Disease?
It is first important to understand that cardiovascular disease consists of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. It is a process that starts when we are children and silently progresses as we grow older. It involves a build-up of plaque, which is cholesterol, fat, or other substances. This plaque accumulates in the arteries of our heart and can eventually cause a blockage, restricting blood flow. Sometimes, the plaque ruptures and results in a blood clot that also cuts off blood flow to the heart. If either situation occurs, it results in a heart attack or stroke.
Men and Women are Different
There are many reasons for why women have heart conditions that go undiagnosed, but the bottom line is that women are different than men. Women frequently have different symptoms, diagnostic test results, responses to medications, and are even less likely to obtain heart-saving therapies. To be more specific, women commonly have atypical chest and abdominal pain than commonly associated with a heart attack. Plaque in women builds up much more evenly along the arteries of the heart, compared to the clumps it builds up as in men. These clumps are easier to identify during a cardiac catheterization, whereas women’s test results are often misinterpreted as normal. Additionally, exercise stress tests (stress ECG’s) are not as effective in diagnosing women with cardiovascular disease. They conclude false positive results in young women with low likelihoods of heart disease and fail to identify those with single-vessel disease.
Know Your Risk Factors |
An important step in protecting yourself from a potentially life-threatening disease is identifying your risk factors. Some of these factors include:
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Once you have identified your personal risk factors, you can move forward to prevention, detection, and treatment.
Take advantage of the Women’s Heart Health Program and make an appointment today with a Penn Cardiac Care specialist. To make an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN, or to set up a free screening, please call (215) 860-3344.
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