Women and Heart Disease
Jan
27
Written by:
1/27/2012
[Click to Download Chocolate Tofu Mousse Recipe]
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the United States than all types of cancer combined. Why, then, do fewer than 1 in 4 women think heart disease is a threat to their health? Why do only 55% of women realize heart disease is their No. 1 killer, and less than half know what are considered healthy levels for cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol? (Know your risk? Take the American Heart Association’s “Go Red Heart Check Up”).
The answer may be that heart disease and heart attacks have, however incorrectly, been predominantly associated with men for years. Men have also been the subjects of most of the research done in this arena, and that research has been the basis for the development of most heart disease treatment guidelines and programs.
So while this may be a perfectly logical explanation for why so many women discount their heart disease risk, it is NOT perfectly acceptable. That’s why the Women and Heart Disease Committee -- consisting of members of the Griffin Hospital Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurse Program, nursing and other healthcare professionals, and volunteers from throughout the community – hosts its annual “Women and Heart Disease” program each year – to raise awareness and educate women about their health.
This year, the 7th Annual Women and Heart Disease program will be held at 5:00 pm Thursday, February 2, 2012 at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby. The event will begin with a silent auction, followed promptly at 6:00 pm by dinner and the program, which features guest speaker Samantha Heller, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Coordinator at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, and the presentation of the annual "Caring Heart" Awards.
In addition to her duties at Griffin Hospital, Ms. Heller is a nationally known health and media expert, consultant, and author of Get Smart: Prescription for Boosting Brain Power & Optimizing Total Body Health. A regularly featured health expert on TV shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The Dr. Oz Show, among others, Ms. Heller has also written numerous nutrition, health, wellness and fitness articles that have appeared in such magazines as Today’s Health & Wellness and Heart Healthy Living.
Reservations for the event, which is open to the public, can be made by calling 203-732-7584 or 203-732-1137. The cost is $35.
