Marshall Medical Center presents
Women's HEART Health Seminar
Thursday, February 12 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Heart Disease is the #1 cause of death of women in the U.S.
Every minute, one woman in America dies from Heart Disease?
Learn from leading experts how women can protect themselves from heart disease.
Topics include
- awareness of women's heart disease
- gender differences in cardiac risk
- symptoms
- ways to prevent heart disease.
Amparo Villablanca, MD, is the keynote speaker.
Diana Penna, Health Reporter for KOVR Channel 13, will emcee the event.
Thursday, February 12 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills
Pre-registration is recommended and seating is limited, so sign up early.
Contact Mary Lynn Carlton at 530-626-2770, Ext. 2037 to reserve your ticket.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.
Learn about local cardiac treatment and diagnosis options.
Visit booth displays which will showcase women's products and services.
Tickets are $25 and include dinner.
www.marshallmedical.org.
Sample Script.
FOR DECADES, HEART DISEASE HAS REMAINED SECURELY PERCHED AT THE TOP OF AMERICA'S "MOST DEADLY DISEASES" LIST. THE DATA USED TO COMPILE SUCH LISTS
HAS, UNTIL RECENTLY, BEEN BASED ON THE CASE STUDIES OF MEN. NOW AS RESEARCHERS FACTOR WOMEN INTO THE EQUATION, ONE STARTLING FACT IS BECOMING CLEAR: HEART DISEASE IS A MUCH GREATER AND DEADLIER HEALTH THREAT FOR WOMEN THAN IT IS FOR MEN.
Dr. Amparo Villablanca, Director, Women's Cardiovascular Health Program
"Heart disease in women is a huge problem. In fact, more women die of
cardiovascular disease which is heart disease and stroke combined every year,
than the total number of men that die of cardiovascular disease every year and
that's approximately half a million women."
DR. AMPARO VILLABLANCA HEADS UP THE UC DAVIS
WOMEN'S CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH PROGRAM. SHE SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE ARE THE SAME BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN - CHEST PAIN, DIZZINESS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH - WOMEN OFTEN EXPERIENCE MUCH MORE SUBTLE SYMPTOMS. HERE'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE: MEN HAVING A HEART ATTACK OFTEN SAY IT FEELS LIKE A HIPPO IS SITTING ON THEIR CHEST, WOMEN GENERALLY EXPERIENCE A MUCH MILDER DISCOMFORT, SAY A MONKEY. AND BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS ARE SO SUBTLE, WOMEN OFTEN ASSUME THESE WARNING SIGNS AREN'T A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SO THEY DON'T SEEK TREATMENT. AND THAT ASSUMPTION CAN PROVE DEADLY.
Dr. Villablanca
"So women need to be aware that the symptoms can be more subtle, but any
discomfort in the chest area that's exertional, they need to pay attention to
and take seriously."
AND IF YOU NEED ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO BACK UP THAT ADVICE, LISTEN TO THIS: ONCE A WOMAN DOES RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION, STANDARD TREATMENTS FOR HEART ATTACKS LIKE BYPASS SURGERY, ANGIOPLASTY, OR DRUGS THAT BREAK UP BLOOD CLOTS CAN POSE GREATER RISKS THAN THEY DO FOR MEN.
SO WHAT CAN A WOMAN DO TO REDUCE HER RISK OF HEART DISEASE? WELL, FOR MANY VERY IMPORTANT GENDER DIFFERENCES, THE ANSWER IS - NOT MUCH.
Dr. Villablanca
"Many women fail to recognize that menopause does give them a higher risk
of heart disease. Diabetes is a much more potent and stronger risk factor for
women that men. The same for high blood pressure, women attain higher levels of
high blood pressure as they get older."
BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. MANY RISK FACTORS CAN BE CONTROLLED, AND YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW MOST OF THE SIMPLE STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE YOUR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO HEART DISEASE. START WITH A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, LOSE THE CIGARETTES AND GAIN A FEW DAYS OF EXERCISE EACH WEEK. DIET IS CRITICAL TO YOUR HEART HEALTH, AND A LOW FAT, LOW CHOLESTEROL DIET THAT'S LARGELY PLANT BASED IS THE BEST. AND HERE'S DR. VILLABLANCA'S ADVICE FOR MEAT EATERS: EAT LESS OF THE FOUR LEGGED VARIETIES, AND MORE OF THE TWO LEGGED VARIETIES. EVEN BETTER WOULD BE NO-LEGGED AND BY THAT, THE DOCTOR MEANS FISH. AND DON'T WAIT TO BEGIN THESE STEPS, HEART DISEASE IS LARGELY PREVENTABLE AND THE BEST PREVENTION STARTS NOW!
Dr. Villablanca
"I think we need to be thinking about heart disease no matter what age you
are. There are a number of very interesting studies showing that some of the
plaques, that the cholesterol deposits that lead to heart disease later on in
life develop as early as in children."
DOES THAT SOUND AMAZING? THE BEGINNING OF HEART DISEASE STARTS IN CHILDHOOD, AND THAT'S WHY ANYTHING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO TAKE UNDUE STRESS OFF YOUR HEART, THE LONGER AND BETTER YOU'LL LIVE. SURE YOUTH IS A PROTECTIVE MECHANISM, BUT ONLY TO A POINT.
Dr. Villablanca
"Younger women are relatively more protected against heart disease than
older women and we think that that has a lot to do with the beneficial effects
of estrogen in protecting against heart disease. However, younger women need to
realize that they're relatively protected but not absolutely protected."
DR. VILLABLANCA SAYS THAT IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE EDUCATION TO TOPPLE HEART DISEASE'S STRONGHOLD ON THE DUBIOUS LIST OF AMERICA'S KILLERS, BUT AS MORE
WOMEN AND MEN BEGIN TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PREVENTION, HEART DISEASE MAY TAKE A BACK SEAT TO HEART HEALTH.
Here's one more thing to consider - heart disease is much more prevalent in certain ethnic groups. For example, African American women have a 34% higher chance of dying from heart disease than Caucasian women do. But across the board for everyone, prevention is still the best medicine.
