| When It Comes To Health, Put Yourself First!  "There are a lot of things I want to do in my life, so I know it's important to take care of my health. Most women put everyone else before themselves, but you can't put off taking care of your heart."
—Pattie (shown)
Do you juggle multiple responsibilities, such as caregiving, a career, and managing your household? It can be easy to overlook your own health, but taking care of yourself should be at the top of your to-do list. Here are a few tips and tools to help you manage your heart health care. Schedule Regular Checkups and Preventive Screenings Be proactive in your heart health care. Protecting your heart health may help you live longer and better. See your doctor for a thorough checkup, bring a list of questions to ask, and write down the answers. Questions should include: - What is my risk for heart disease? ______________________________________________
- What is my blood pressure? _________/_________ What do the numbers mean, and what do I need to do about it? _______________
- What are my cholesterol numbers? _______________ What do they mean, and what do I need to do about them? _______________________________________________
- How much do I weigh? ____________ What is my body mass index (BMI)? __________ What is my waist circumference? _________ Do I need to lose weight? _______________
- What is my blood sugar level? ______________ Am I at risk for diabetes? _______________
- What other screening tests should I have? _________________________________________
- How often should I return for checkups? ___________________________________________
Know your numbers. High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and high blood sugar are all silent risks for heart disease. Write down your numbers, discuss them with your health provider, and follow how they change over time. View a list of questions to ask your doctor about your heart health
Take Action! - Calculate your BMI
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
- Try out the new COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) widget
The number of people who have COPD is on the rise—more than 12 million Americans are currently diagnosed with it, and another 12 million may have COPD but not realize it. Listen to the sample cough, wheeze, and hack to see whether they sound like you or someone you know.
- Test your nutrition savvy with the popular Portion Distortion Quiz
Quiz yourself on how today's portions compare to the portions available 20 years ago.
- Estimate your risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years
This calculator, designed for adults aged 20 and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes, is based on information from the Framingham Heart Study.
Update on Menopausal Hormone Therapy  If you're approaching menopause, choosing whether to use hormone therapy is an important health care decision. Each woman, in tandem with her health care team, should carefully consider the benefits and risks of taking a medication, with attention given to both short-term and long-term health consequences.
The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) was a long-term national health study that focused on strategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. New research from the WHI describes the long-term effects of estrogen therapy among postmenopausal women who had had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). The findings show that several of the original patterns of health risks and benefits are not maintained after women stop taking estrogen. Read a summary of the study and learn what it means for you More than 161,000 women aged 50–79 years participated in the WHI. Women at several clinical centers made quilts for the WHI, and many contributed a personal statement about their participation in the study. "My reason for joining the WHI is because I have three daughters, three granddaughters, and now a great-granddaughter. I hope my being a member of the WHI will help my girls and maybe other females."
—CH (quilt block shown) - View the WHI quilts
- Learn about participating in a clinical trial
News and Events National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo,
July 23–26, Washington, DC
The Director's Corner: Dr. Shurin meets with women medical students
NHLBI Acting Director Susan B. Shurin, M.D., recently met with a group of women medical students in a retreat-style setting in Reston, VA.
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