How Healthy Is Your Heart?

A recent national study conducted by the American Heart Association showed that fewer than 50% of American women know that heart disease is their leading killer. Cardiovascular disease—the number one cause of death in the United States—claims the lives of almost 500,000 women each year. That’s nearly one death every minute. Being aware of the risk of heart disease is important because it’s the first step in taking action to lower risk. Many women fail to recognize the seriousness of heart disease. One reason may be the common misconception that heart disease can be “cured” with surgery. Bypass surgery and angioplasty can help restore blood and oxygen flow to the heart. However, blood vessels remain damaged, which means women are more likely to have a heart attack. Admittedly there are risk factors that you have no control over, such as family history and growing older, but there are far more that you can manage. Smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels are all within the realm of your control.

The Prather Wellness Center already offers you assistance in managing all of these risk factors, and we’re excited to introduce our newest weapon in the fight to prevent cardiovascular disease: External Counterpulsation Therapy. ECP Therapy is a non-invasive procedure that improves circulation to your heart muscle by opening collateral arteries.

Why is this important? Because you are only as old as your arteries! Now that’s a good reason for women to take heart!