Raising awareness

February is not only a time to remember our sweethearts, honor our presidents, and mark the beginning of Lent, it is also a time to evaluate how we take care of ourselves. February is American Heart Month.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's No. 1 killer.

Heart disease used to be thought of as a "man's disease" but the reality is it is responsible for more deaths among women- about 480,000 women every year- than the next four most common causes of death combined. One in three women will develop heart disease in a lifetime, but many women still do not know they are at risk, says The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

While age and family history play a role in personal susceptibility to heart disease, most of the additional risk factors are modifiable.

Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body, but when present in excess, cholesterol can cause fatty deposits (plaque) to build up in the arteries. Plaque build-up eventually hardens and narrows the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis), restricting blood flow to the heart and setting the stage for a heart attack or stroke. Lowering "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raising "good" cholesterol (HDL) can help slow plaque build-up. Ideally, a woman's total cholesterol should be less than 200, LDL less than 100, and HDL greater than 60.

High blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also damage the kidneys, brain, and eyes. Systolic blood pressure of less than 120 and diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 (read "120 over 80") is optimal.

Having diabetes increases the chances of heart problems. Additionally, women with diabetes often have other risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Managing diabetes with healthy lifestyle changes will also help to minimize these other conditions and protect your heart.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers several suggestions on what a woman can do to reduce her chances of heart disease.

Stop smoking. Smoking lowers HDL ("good" cholesterol) and exacerbates high blood pressure and heart disease, so if you smoke, quit.

Losing weight, exercising for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week, and lowering dietary fat and sodium intake also work against high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

If these interventions don't work, talk to your doctor about medications that may help.

For more information, the Patient Education Pamphlet "Keeping Your Heart Healthy" is available www. a c o g . o r g / p u b l i c a t i o n s / p a t i e n t education/bp122.cfm or visit www.americanheartassociation. org.