Wear red for heart health
Dr. Catherine Dinglasan is helping CBHA raise awareness of women’s heart health. Photo by LuAnn Morgan.
By LuAnn Morgan
Contributing writer
Friday is National Wear Red Day and staff at Columbia Basin Health Association is spreading the word that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.
“But it’s very preventable,” said Dr. Catherine Dinglasan, medical provider at CBHA.
Dinglasan focuses much of her practice on women’s health issues and will be helping with the free Heart Health Risk Assessment the clinic will be providing. She said there are certain risk factors that may determine if a woman is at risk of developing heart disease.
The key factor, Dinglasan said, is a family history of any type of heart disease.
“Race can also be a risk factor, especially among Mexican Americans,” she said. “The risk increases if the patient is diabetic.”
Other factors include age and whether or not a woman is post-menopausal.
“Estrogen before menopause has a protective effect,” Dinglasan said.
That’s one reason why women are often unaware of the risk. In fact, most surveys show breast cancer is the disease women most fear.
Statistics show one in four American women dies of heart disease and most fail to make the connection between risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and their personal risk of developing heart disease.
“Heart disease is the No. 1 killer and that’s why the Heart Truth campaign started,” Dinglasan said. “And because of the campaign, awareness has doubled.”
Created in 2002, the goal of the campaign was to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women. Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing their favorite red dress, shirt, tie or the Red Dress Pin, available at CBHA.
The Red Dress was designed to build awareness that women are at risk for heart disease and motivate them to take action to reduce their risk. The concept has tested well with women who said it gets attention, conveys the seriousness of heart disease and changes the perception that it’s only a man’s issue.
Dinglasan said there are signs women should pay attention to, including tiring easily, chest discomfort with expiration, shortness of breath and dizziness. An upset stomach can also be a clue if other signs are present.
“There isn’t necessarily chest pain,” Dinglasan said.
An otherwise healthy woman should begin analyzing her risk factors by age 30 at the earliest. It’s a good time to begin discussing heart disease with her doctor during annual checkups.
But any age is susceptible, so all are encouraged to stop by the clinic on Feb. 5 for a free assessment.
Dinglasan said even a woman in the high risk category can do certain things to help prevent the development of heart disease.
“Stop smoking and eat healthy to control cholesterol,” she said. “Weight loss and physical activity can help, too.”
The key to preventative care, Dinglasan said, is to be more self-conscious.
“Have your heart checked annually,” she said. “When you have your pap test, have the lab include a blood test for cholesterol.”
Erin Engles, CBHA marketing consultant, said the free assessment will cover risk factors, as well as look at personal health habits.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both the Othello Family Clinic and 14th Avenue Medical Center. The assessment is also available at the Wahluke Family Clinic in Mattawa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“A health educator will be on hand to answer questions,” Engles said. “And if you get a bad score, we will help you set up an appointment.”
Information will be available in both English and Spanish.
“We want everybody to come in,” she said. “We will also have a door prize.”
Engles said other health centers across the country will be doing similar campaigns. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the sponsor.
More information is also available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/.
Dinglasan said the main message is to recognize the dangers of heart disease for women and how it can be prevented.
“Talk to your doctor,” she said. “The patient should initiate the communication.”
Short URL: http://othellooutlook.com/?p=8253
Posted by LuAnn Morgan
on Feb 5 2010. Filed under Columbia Basin Health Association, Community.
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