| Women and Heart Disease |
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January 30, 2007, Volume 53, No. 20
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Friday, February 2 is ‘National Wear Red Day’ to show support for women’s heart disease awareness. As National Heart Awareness Month approaches, here are some thoughts from Penn Medicine physicians.
“Women need to stop caring for all the members of their families for a few minutes and start caring for themselves. They need to know their risk factors for heart disease and take steps to reduce future risk. Heart disease kills women five times more than any cancer in the U.S.”
—Mariell Jessup, MD
Medical Director, Heart Failure & Transplant Program, HUP
“A recent survey showed that a majority of women can not identify risk factors for heart disease or steps they can take to reduce their own risks. And many do not know their cholesterol levels, and have never discussed heart disease with their doctors. This illustrates the enormous treatment gap that results in premature strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and death. Both health care providers and patients need to close this gap with better education, awareness, and communication.”
—Laura Demopoulos, MD,
Director, Women’s Cardiovascular Health, Penn Medicine at Radnor
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