One in three deaths among women each year is due to cardiovascular disease, making it the number one killer of women. That’s one death every minute. That’s more deaths than breast cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combined.
This means that mothers of all kinds are affected by this deadly disease for which there is no cure, and many don’t even know they are at risk.
However, there is hope. 80% of all cardiovascular disease is preventable.
Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day on which we think about the women in our lives and how special they are to us. My message to you, from one mother to another, please take care of your heart and remind those special women in your life to take care of theirs.
Tell at least one woman today that heart disease is the number one killer of women, including many of whom are mothers, but together we can change that statistic.
Help her get started
Here are five simple steps you and your loved ones can take to beat the odds. Moms, these changes are worth it.
- Know your numbers
- Follow doctor’s orders
- Get a move on
- Tweak what you eat
- Quit smoking
We need moms. It’s that simple. So celebrate Mother’s Day with extra heart by telling someone you love about preventing heart disease. She will thank you!
Until next time!
Stephanie Coulter, MD
Do you have a topic that you would like to learn more about from Dr. Stephanie? Send us an email at women@texasheart.org and your question may be the next Straight Talk topic!
We are saving hearts and trees. The Women's Heart Health E-News is sent via e-mail and posted online. Sign up using the form on this page.
Visit the Center for Women's Heart & Vascular Health at www.texasheart.org/women.
