Preventing Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is the top cause of death in the United States.  It is the most common form of heart disease and occurs when the coronary arteries ─ the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle ─ gradually become narrowed or blocked by plaque deposits.  This decreases the space through which the blood can flow and can “starve” the heart muscle, leading to chest pain.  When the blood flow is completely blocked, a heart attack results.

Since 1984, more women than men are dying of heart disease and it kills more women than any other disease.  “Heart disease kills about one woman each minute,” says Carla Schneider, MS, cWc, a personal cardiac coach with Oakwood Healthcare System. “While about one in four women will be affected by breast cancer, about 43 percent of women are affected by heart disease.”

As a result, Oakwood Healthcare System launched the Healthy Hearts for Women initiative ─ a five year commitment to education and research regarding women and heart disease.  The campaign is supported by the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Michigan Department of Community Health.  “It’s really twofold.  We have community outreach and programming and we also have a research study that’s just geared around women,” Schneider explains.  “In the past, only about 25 percent of women were involved in any research studies.  It was normally men.”

The goal of Oakwood’s Healthy Hearts for Women initiative is to reach as many women as possible through educational programs and screenings.  The services are free to community organizations, corporations and groups throughout the Wayne County area.  Available services include a 20-minute presentation, health fair exhibit, education lecture, or informational brochures and Web sites.  The heart health screening includes blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose and follow-up counseling.  Women are then given a brief, confidential questionnaire that includes an invitation to participate in a study to improve women’s risks for heart disease.  The study is for women who screen at medium to high risk for heart disease.  Women, ages 20 to 79, who want to volunteer for Oakwood’s Healthy Hearts for Women study are encouraged to call (313) 436-2437.  To arrange for the free heart health services, contact Oakwood Community Health at (313) 586-4938.

There are several risk factors for heart disease: age, race, family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol usage, stress, anxiety and depression.  However, Schneider says heart disease can be controlled.  “In order to improve heart health, we need to look at some lifestyle changes like stress management, smoking cessation, regular exercise, and a heart healthy diet.  It’s a pretty simple answer, but it’s not always easy to execute.  You have to figure out how to make those things a priority in your life and fit them into everything else that goes on.”

Visit Web MD for an overview on coronary artery disease and more on the symptoms.