Every February, the Women Veterans Program at the St. Cloud VA joins the American Heart Association’s efforts to raise awareness and provide education about heart disease and stroke among women Veterans.
Women Veterans are invited to join the effort by learning more about heart disease in women while helping to paint a mosaic in support of heart disease prevention, on February 15, at 6 p.m. in Bldg. 4, Room 129, at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, located at 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud.
For more information or to confirm attendance on Feb. 15, contact Amber Willert, Women Veterans Program Manager at amber.willert@va.gov, or call (320) 252-1670 Ext. 6655. Confirmations are requested by Feb. 13.
Heart Disease in Women
One in three women die from cardiovascular diseases and stroke each year, killing about one woman every 80 seconds. An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases.
The symptoms of heart attack can be different in women versus men, and are often misunderstood – even by some physicians. Fewer women than men survive their first heart attack. Women also have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men.
Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. However, 80 percent of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education, and it all starts with knowing your numbers.
AHA recommends that women are aware of five key numbers: Total Cholesterol, HDL (good) Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI). These numbers are important because they help providers determine your risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.
Join the Conversation
Learn more about women Veterans and heart health, and help VA spread awareness about heart disease and stroke in women by using hashtags #KnowYourNumbers and #Every80Seconds in social media.