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How much do you know about your risks?
In 1997, the American Heart Association (AHA) conducted a nationwide poll of American women's attitudes toward the major threats to their health and their knowledge of heart disease and stroke. At that time, to the AHA's way of thinking, the results were disappointing. Cancer, believed 61 percent of the women surveyed, was the greatest threat to their long-term health. Only 7 percent of respondents were aware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading killer of both men and women in the United States.
In 2001, the AHA commissioned a follow-up telephone survey. The results indicate that the accuracy of women's perceptions of health issues has improved, but just barely.
When asked what they felt was their leading health problem, only 8 percent of the 1,004 women over age 25 surveyed believed it was CVD, a modest 1 percent improvement over the previous survey results. In fact, even more women than in the 1997 survey reported breast cancer as their greatest health concern.
As AHA president Rose Marie Robertson, M.D., noted in an editorial in Circulation, women's heightened awareness of breast cancer risks and the need for preventive measures like mammograms is a great success story. The challenge now, she says, is to repeat that success with cardiovascular disease at a time when only 34 percent of women recognize it for the significant threat that it is.
Consider the Source Part of the challenge may lie in finding the best form for getting the CVD message out. While 75 percent of women have received some information about heart disease, the AHA survey found, most of it comes from magazines (43 percent) and television (21 percent). Only 20 percent of women said they had discussed heart disease with a health professional in the previous year, up just 2 percent from the 1997 survey.
Unfortunately, that information path leads to spotty and inconsistent knowledge. A majority of the women surveyed could identify the activities that reduce the risk of developing heart disease, including exercise and smoking cessation. But at least a third believed that heart disease is a condition that doesn't develop until later in life. A surprising number—26 percent—also believed that aromatherapy can protect them from heart disease.
The survey found that more women are now concerned about their health than they were previously, and the vast majority of them said they would be comfortable discussing disease prevention and treatment with their physicians. Unfortunately, the survey suggests that little more than a third of physicians are routinely talking to their patients about the subject.
Though time is short during an office visit, it's clear that you and your doctor will benefit from having a few minutes devoted to an informative discussion of the risks and realities of cardiovascular disease.
The information provided is intended to help you make informed decisions. The Genworth Financial companies do not provide medical information, advice or recommendations. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen. Please note that Wellness partners, their products, services, and offers may change over time.
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