Women of the Baby Boom: Time To Get Heart Smart

New York--- At a briefing sponsored by the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) on October 22, 1996, three of the nation’s leading researchers reminded women that contrary to popular understanding, their number one killer is heart disease. Heart disease accounts for more women’s deaths than cancer, diabetes and accidents combined.

"Women from the Baby Boom generation today are just beginning to face the biggest threat to their lives,” said William Hazzard, M.D., Professor and Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. “And many will be surprised that this threat is not cancer, but heart disease.” Dr. Hazzard expressed concern that the medical and public health community had not done a good enough job educating women about this risk. Nevertheless, nearly 500,000 women die each year of heart and blood vessel disease, compared to approximately 245,000 from all forms of cancer.

Preventive Measures

For both men and women, the risk of heart disease grows dramatically with each decade of life, noted Dr. Hazzard, but women suffer far less cardiovascular disease -- until the years following menopause. Until age 60, men die of heart attacks at six times the rate of women; by 85, however, the ratio is virtually even at 1.2 to 1.

Several studies have demonstrated that estrogen production during the reproductive years is related to protection against coronary artery disease and heart attacks. “After menopause, however, the loss of this protection,” Hazzard said, “leaves women vulnerable to the risks of cardiovascular disease.” Estrogen seems to protect the heart in two ways. First it has a positive effect on lipid levels. That is, natural estrogen -- and according to recent research, estrogen supplements-- lowers LDL (or bad) cholesterol, increases HDL ( or good) cholesterol, and improves the ratio of the two-- all indicators of reduced risk for heart disease. Second, more recent research suggests that estrogen reduces the incidence of coronary spasm in the arterial walls, thereby reducing the precipitating event of many heart attacks.

Protective Measures

Protection against heart disease begins with awareness, but requires action. Women, therefore, are advised to take five precautionary steps to lessen their chances of developing congestive heart failure:

1. Get your cholesterol and other levels checked. Recommended lipid levels for women (especially elderly women) are still being developed, but enough correlation between these levels and heart disease suggest that women should get measurements for cholesterol, HDL, LDL, blood pressure and triglycerides, so they may be tracked over time and abnormal levels evaluated.

2. Consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While several large studies have shown the beneficial effect of hormone supplements on the incidence of heart disease, the decision to use these supplements remains an individual one, especially for women with a family history of breast or endometrial cancer.

3. Do not smoke. Seek help for quitting if you do. According to the American Heart Association, smoking is the biggest risk factor for heart attack, besides age. Also, avoid “second hand” smoke.

4. Eat a low-fat, high-fiber, high antioxidant diet. Getting enough key minerals, vitamins, and fiber in the diet are immediate steps one can take to lower cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease risk. All women should make sure their dietary levels of Vitamin C, E and others are at or above the FDA’s recommended daily allowances.

5. Exercise regularly for 20 min/day 3 times/week. Exercise helps normalize blood cholesterol levels, lessens the craving for tobacco, and helps keep weight down.