Women's Heart Health

Women’s heart health is important to St. John’s Mercy. It is a myth that heart disease is a man's disease. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women. In 64 percent of women who died suddenly from heart disease, there were no previous symptoms of the disease. Heart attacks are a major component of heart disease in women.

There are two types of risk factors for heart attack in both men and women. These types are inherited (or genetic) and acquired. Inherited or genetic risk factors are risk factors you are born with that cannot be changed, but can be improved with medical management and lifestyle changes. Acquired risk factors are caused by activities that we choose to include in our lives that can be managed through lifestyle changes and clinical care.

Some inherited (genetic) factors that affect women’s heart health are:

• Women with inherited hypertension - high blood pressure
• Women with inherited low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or high levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) blood cholesterol
• Women with a family history of heart disease (especially with onset before age 55)
• Women with type 1 diabetes
• Aging women, after the onset of menopause - generally, men are at risk at an earlier age than women, but after the onset of menopause, women are equally at risk.

Other women’s heart health acquired risk factors are:

• Women with acquired hypertension - high blood pressure
• Women with acquired low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or high levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) blood cholesterol
• Women who are cigarette smokers, lead a sedentary lifestyle and who are overweight by 30% or more
• Women who are under a lot of stress

It is important for women to monitor their heart health and St. John’s Mercy is committed to helping. St. John's Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital created PULSE, a women's heart healthy program, to help women learn their risks and manage their heart health. We also have a support group called "Women With Heart" as a means for women with heart disease to share their experience, thoughts and concerns.

For more information about the St. John's Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital, please call 1-866-78-HEART.