A change of heart
American Heart Association releases recommendations for women at risk for heart disease
By Shayna Strang, staff writer
Posted on March 1, 2007

In 2004, an estimated 8 million American women were living with heart disease and 500,000 were killed by it, according to the American Heart Association.

In an effort to reduce these numbers, guidelines for women’s heart disease shifted their focus from high-risk candidates to a lifetime prevention of heart disease, according to the AHA.

“The guidelines include more aggressive recommendations for high-risk women and emphasize lifestyle strategies to reduce risk in all women,” said Vickie Carothers, nurse practitioner at the University Health Center.

Women should begin being screened for heart disease at the age of 20, regardless of their risk level. The 2007 guidelines also included a new model for risk assessment, new lifestyle and medication recommendations, and new instructions for the use of aspirin for heart disease prevention. 

“The earlier you begin to identify your risk factors, the better chance you will have at preventing heart disease,” said Cynthia Cadieux, professor of dietetics. “The new guidelines focus on lifetime risks, so starting at an earlier age is imperative.”

Important factors that increase risk include family history, smoking status, physical activity, diet and weight maintenance.

“Poor lifestyle choices related to smoking, diet and exercise have real consequences,” Cadieux said. “The statistics show that young women are not immune from these consequences.”

 “Many women are unaware that heart disease is their greatest health risk,” she said.

But for many students the seriousness of this risk doesn’t seem to be a reality.

“I have no family history of it, so the guidelines don’t mean much,” junior Catherine Nightengale said.

But family history is only part of a person’s risk factor, according to Cadieux. The best weapons to reduce risk involve a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking.

“We see heart disease in women at younger and younger ages,” Cadieux said. “Yet it is a disease that can be prevented.”

In an effort to improve, establishments on campus and around the state have begun using only zero trans- fat oils. This is one way to reduce the risk of heart disease , since consumption of trans-fatty acids should be as low as possible, according to the 2007 guidelines. But this change in cooking style will be beneficial only if the trans fat is being replaced by a healthier alternative, Cadieux said.

Reducing trans fat should not lead to an increase in other saturated fats, according to the American Dietetic Association. And since the most common replacement for trans fat is another saturated fat, the risk could still be there.

With heart disease being one of the top three causes of death of American women and men, prevention is the key, Cadieux said.

“I like to watch what I eat and work out, but I didn’t realize that I could be lessening my risk of heart disease,” freshman Heather Smith said.

To find out your personal risk for heart disease, take the Go Red Heart Checkup at goredforwomen.org or consult your physician.