Information for Women About Heart Disease and Stroke

Cardiovascular Disease: The Silent Enemy

Although breast cancer has been widely perceived as a woman's most feared enemy, more women in the U.S. die of heart disease than of all cancers combined. Heart disease in women is largely under-recognized; typically, a woman is older than a man when she exhibits symptoms, which are often more subtle, making detection and diagnosis difficult. As a result, cardiovascular disease in women is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, and many women fail to receive the needed treatment that could save their lives in a prompt fashion.

The key to reversing this trend lies in preventing the risk factors that contribute to heart disease — and increasing awareness of new therapies which can lower the incidence of the disease.

The Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program strives to enhance awareness of women's heart health care among patients, health-care providers and policymakers through a variety of educational tools, seminars, classes and events. Information is available on nutrition, hormone replacement therapy, hypertension, risk factors, exercise, medication schedules, osteoporosis prevention and other topics. Individual teaching sessions, written materials, brochures and educational videos are also available.

General educational materials

• Ways in Which Heart Disease May Affect Women
• Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease and Stroke
• Low Sodium (PDF), Exercise (PDF) and Action Steps (PDF)
• 10-Year Risk of Having a Heart Attack Calculator

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website: "The Heart Truth Campaign"

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute fact sheets:

• The Heart Truth for Women: An Action Plan (PDF)
• When Delicious Meets Nutritious: Recipes for Heart Health (PDF)
• The Heart Truth for Women: If You Have Heart Disease (PDF)
• The Heart Truth: Women and Heart Disease (PDF)
• The Heart Truth: Campaign Overview (PDF)
• The Red Dress: The National Symbol for Women and Heart Disease Awareness (PDF)
• The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan (PDF)
• The Heart Truth for Latinas: An Action Plan (PDF)
• The Heart Truth for Women: It's Ageless (PDF)
• The Heart Truth Partners (PDF)

Materials in Spanish:

• National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute: "The Heart Truth Campaign" — In Spanish 
• The Heart Truth: Campaign Overview 
• The Heart Truth for Latinas: An Action Plan (PDF)

American Heart Association

American Heart Association website : "Go Red For Women"

American Heart Association materials in English:

• Cardiovascular Conditions
• Treatments and Tests 
• Lifestyle and Risk Reduction 
• Stroke Prevention 
• Life after Stroke

American Heart Association materials in Spanish:

• American Heart Association Spanish Materials: Respuestas del Corazon 
• Hojas "Hablemos de los Ataques al Cerebro" con informacion para el paciente