Taking it to heart - Prevention magazine study on women and heart attack risk

American Demographics, May, 1997 by Nancy Ten Kate

Despite the fact that heart attack is the leading killer of women in the U.S., many underestimate their risk of heart disease. Most women think that men are at far greater risk for heart disease, when in fact, nearly as many women as men die from heart attacks annually--233,000 compared with 247,000, according to the National Center for Health Statistics and the American Heart Association.

Prevention magazine conducted a survey of women and their perceived health risks in September 1996. Only one-third of women surveyed realize that they are at far greater risk of dying from a heart attack than from breast cancer. In fact, women are five times more likely to die of a heart attack than breast cancer. And a woman's chances of dying from a heart attack are nearly the same as her chances of dying from all cancers combined.

When asked how likely women thought they were to have a heart attack at some point in their lives, only 14 percent of respondents think it is very likely and 32 percent think it is somewhat likely. And the women who are most at risk are least likely to recognize that risk. Only 40 percent of women aged 60 or older feel they are somewhat or very likely to have a heart attack, even though their risk is highest among women. Fifty-two percent of 30-to-44-year-olds, 49 percent of 45-to-59-year-olds, and 45 percent of women under age 30 feel at risk.

Most women take at least some steps each year to maintain their health. Three-fourths of women have their blood pressure checked annually. Sixty-eight percent have a checkup, 57 percent a Pap test, 47 percent a cholesterol test, and 31 percent a mammogram. Over half say they eat a low-fat diet, and 39 percent exercise moderately a few times a week.

For more information, see "Heart to Heart: Are Women Winning the Healthy Heart Game?" available from Prevention magazine, 33 East Minor Street, Emmaus, PA 18098; telephone (610) 9675171.