Get Smart About Protecting Your Heart

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Get Smart About Protecting Your Heart (NAPSA)—More women are learning about heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S.—and learning how to reduce their risk. “When womenrealize that cardiovascular disease kills an estimated 461,000 women each year and that the average numberof years lost to heart attack is 15, they sit up and take notice,” said Dr. Annabelle Volgman, a cardiologist at Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center. Volgman recommends signing the Love Your Heart Pledge as a ereat motivational step in reducing yourrisk. The pledge was launched by Kelloge’s Smart Start Healthy Heart cereal, which contains ingredients that may help lower both cholesterol and blood pres- sure. It is hoped that 1 million women will sign it and promise to do what’s necessary to promote a healthy heart. The company will donate a dime (up to $100,000) to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movementfor every woman who goes online at By taking a few simple steps, women can reducetheir risk for heart disease and heart attack. your cholesterol. Begin your day with a heart-healthy breakfast such as Smart Start Healthy Heart cereal, which contains oat bran and potassium and is low in sodium. Watch your blood pressure. If you take birth control pills, are pregnant or overweight, or if you have entered menopause, ask your doctor how often your blood pressure should be checked. Daily aerobic physical activity and www.smartstart.com and completes the pledge in 2007. To lower the risk of heart dis- your blood pressure. e Stop smoking. Smokersare Too much fat, especially in your than nonsmokers. ease, women should: e Aim for a healthy weight. waist area, means you're at a higher risk for health problems, including heart disease. A high-risk waistline is 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches for men. Work at lowering your cholesterol. Too much choles- terol can clog arteries, causing heart disease and even heart attack. Daily aerobic activity and eating healthy may help lower eating healthy may help lower two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease Forget fads when trying to lose weight. A sensible weight plan includes developing—and maintaining—a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. For more information about the pledge, visit www.smartstart.com. For more information about heart disease and what women can do to reduce their risk, visit www.americanheart.org.

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