THE ALLIANCE FOR AGING RESEARCH LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN
Washington D.C. – In an effort to improve awareness about heart disease in women, the Alliance for Aging Research has launched a new campaign,
Heart Disease: About Women, About You. With support from Edwards Lifesciences, the Alliance is reaching out to physicians and consumers to inform them about critical knowledge gaps and encourage more physician-patient conversations about heart health.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women. One in two American women die of heart disease or stroke and those that survive often experience a significant decrease in their independence and quality of life. Despite a dramatic increase in awareness during the past decade, almost half (46%) of American women don’t know that heart disease is their biggest health threat.
"Despite these grim statistics, there is a lot women can do to decrease their risk of heart disease," said Daniel Perry, executive director of the Alliance. Women can actually lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82% by leading a healthy lifestyle. Knowing the signs of heart disease is also vital since acting quickly in a heart emergency can dramatically increase chances of survival and recovery. Women tend to wait longer than men to get help when having a heart attack or stroke. This is most likely due in part to the fact that women often experience atypical symptoms of a heart attack, in addition to or instead of the classic symptoms of crushing chest and arm pain.
"Knowledge is definitely power when it comes to heart disease," said Perry. To find out more about this exciting campaign visit www.agingresearch.org.
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Founded in 1986, the Alliance for Aging Research is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the health and independence of aging Americans through public and private funding of medical research and geriatric education. The Alliance combines the interest of top scientists, public officials, business executives, and foundation leaders to promote a greater national investment in research and new technologies that will prepare our nation for the coming senior boom, and improve the quality of life for today’s older generation
