Lansing, MI - Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States and in Michigan, causing about one in five deaths in 2020. In recognition of American Heart Month and the American Heart Association’s Go Red™ for Women campaign, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) WISEWOMAN program and Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit are working together to raise awareness of heart health.
“The best way to protect against heart disease is to prioritize heart health by developing and maintaining healthy habits,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Michigan residents can do this by being aware of their individual risk factors and leading a heart-healthy lifestyle, which includes seeing their doctor for routine visits, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.”
Between 2019 and 2020, mortality rates due to heart disease increased nearly 2% among white non-Hispanic women, more than 8% among Hispanic women and nearly 10% among Black non-Hispanic women ages 25 and older nationwide. Although women are disproportionately impacted, heart disease can affect people of any age, gender, race or ethnicity.
Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by implementing lifestyle changes, including:
- Not smoking and avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Engaging in regular physical
- Eating a balanced diet.
- Managing healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
- Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Both the WISEWOMAN program and the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit work to increase awareness of the risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke through the work of the Michigan Million Hearts® Network. Million Hearts® 2027 -- a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Million Hearts Initiative collaborated with the CDC Foundation to develop the “Live to the Beat” campaign.
Women should talk with their health care providers about their health including any risk factors they may have for cardiovascular disease. For information on risk factors as well as signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, visit Go Red for Women. For more information about the WISEWOMAN program, call 844-446-8727.