The American Heart Association's Guidelines for Women
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death of American women. Are you at risk? The American Heart Association (AHA) offers a way to classify the likelihood of developing CVD—one that goes beyond the Framingham global risk score. The Framingham score places women in categories (from high risk to optimal) based on factors like age, total cholesterol, and blood pressure. The total score has been to calculate a woman’s 10-year risk of developing the disease. The problem with this is that a low score does not necessarily reflect risk over the course of a lifetime.- Established coronary heart disease
- Cerebrovascular disease (eg, stroke)
- Peripheral artery disease
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- A high 10-year Framingham global risk score (over 10% chance of developing CVD)
- Smoking
- Elevated or high blood pressure
- Dyslipidemia (cholesterol problems or high triglycerides)
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of CVD (eg, CVD less than age 55 in a male relative, CVD less than age 65 in a female relative)
- Metabolic syndrome (combination of usually mild to moderate hypertension, dyslipidemia, overweight, as well as pre-diabetes)
- Evidence of subclinical (asymptomatic) vascular disease (eg, coronary calcification)
- Poor exercise capacity on treadmill test and/or abnormal heart rate after stopping exercise
- Systemic autoimmune collagen-vascular disease (eg, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
- History of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or pregnancy-induced hypertension
Making Changes for Your Heart
- Do not smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about strategies to quit.
- Get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise.
- Eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Twice a week try to include fish in your diet. Limit saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and sodium.
- Drink alcohol only in moderation. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
- If you are overweight, lose weight. Try to maintain a healthy weight for you.
Current Disease
At Risk for CVD
- Aiming for an optimal blood pressure reading (<120/80 mmHg) and taking blood pressure medicine if needed
- Aiming for healthy cholesterol levels (talk to your doctor about what ideal levels are for you) and taking cholesterol medicine if needed
- Controlling diabetes with diet, exercise, and medicine
- Starting aspirin therapy or other medicines if your doctor recommends them
RESOURCES
American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org
Go Red for Women American Heart Association http://www.goredforwomen.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Cardiovascular Society http://www.ccs.ca/home/index%5Fe.aspx/
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://www.heartandstroke.com/
References
Estimate of 10-year risk for coronary heart disease Framingham point scores. National Cholesterol Education Program. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/risk%5Ftbl.htm#women. Accessed February 22, 2007.
Fish oils in heart cells can block dangerous heart rhythms. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012101. Accessed February 22, 2007.
How is blood cholesterol diagnosed? Diseases and Conditions Index. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC%5FDiagnosis.html. Accessed February 22, 2007.
Mosca L, Benjamin EJ, Berra K, et al. Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women—2011 update: a guideline from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;123:1-20.
What is high blood pressure? Diseases and Conditions Index. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP%5FWhatIs.html. Accessed February 22, 2007.