THE HEART TRUTH

1. THE HEART TRUTH Welcome!

2. What is motivating YOU to learn more about heart disease and stroke?

3. Today’s presentation • The Heart Truth • What are heart disease and stroke? • What are the warning signs? • What are women’s risk factors? • How can you reduce your risks? • How to talk to your doctor

4. The Heart and Stroke Foundation • Research • Healthy living promotion • Advocacy

5. The Heart Truth campaign • Developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation to: • Raise awareness • Encourage healthy lifestyle choices • Help women share the truth with others

6. Why The Heart Truth? • Heart disease and stroke • NOT just a “man’s disease” • Is a leading cause of death for women in Canada • Kills seven times more women than breast cancer BUT…many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes.

7. What is heart disease? • Damage to the heart • Most common type is coronary artery disease • angina caused by reduced blood supply and oxygen to the heart • heart attack caused by reduction or stoppage of blood supply/oxygen

8. Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack?

9. Heart attack—warning signs • Chest discomfort - uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness • Discomfort in other areas - upper body: neck, jaw, shoulder, arms and back • Shortness of breath - difficulty breathing • Nausea - indigestion, vomiting • Sweating - cool, clammy skin • Light-headedness

10. What is stroke? • Damage to a part of the brain • Four out of five strokes are caused by reduced or stopped blood flow

11. Do you know the warning signs of a stroke?

12. Stroke—warning signs • Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary • Trouble speaking - Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary • Vision problems - Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary • Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache • Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs

13. Risk factors Heart disease and stroke share many risk factors. RISKS YOU CAN’T CONTROL INCLUDE: • Family history • Ethnicity • Gender

14. Controllable risk factors Heart disease and stroke share many risk factors: RISKS YOU CAN CONTROL INCLUDE: • Smoking • Obesity • Inactivity • Stress • Diabetes • High blood pressure • High cholesterol

15. Risk factors—smoking • doubles the risk of stroke • reduces blood oxygen • blocks arteries

16. Risk factors—smoking • doubles the risk of stroke • reduces blood oxygen • blocks arteries One in four

17. Risk factors—obesity Obesity can lead to: • high cholesterol • high blood pressure • diabetes

18. Risk factors—obesity Obesity can lead to: • high cholesterol • high blood pressure • Diabetes More than 50 per cent

19. Risk factors—diabetes • Three to seven times the risk of heart disease - four out of five people with diabetes die of heart disease • High risk of stroke • Greater risk for women than men

20. Risk factors—diabetes • Three to seven times the risk of heart disease - four out of five people with diabetes die of heart disease • High risk of stroke • Greater risk for women than men Two million have diabetes One million have diabetes and don’t know it

21. Risk factors—high blood pressure • Leading cause of stroke • Increases heart disease risk up to four times

22. Risk factors—high blood pressure • Leading cause of stroke • Increases heart disease risk up to four times One in five

23. Risk factors—high cholesterol • Increases risk of • narrowed arteries • blood clots • Invisible - no symptoms • Can indicate high triglycerides

24. Risk factors—inactivity • Increases heart disease risk twofold • Increasing activity levels reduces risk

25. Risk factors—inactivity • Increases heart disease risk twofold • Increasing activity levels reduces risk Close to 50 per cent of Canadian women over age 12 are inactive

26. Risk factors—stress • May indicate higher cholesterol and blood pressure levels

27. Women’s unique health issues • What kinds of additional risks do you think women may have for heart disease and stroke?

28. Women’s unique health issues • Menopause • Cholesterol/triglycerides • Hormone Replacement Therapy • Pregnancy • Oral contraceptives

29. Taking action Women are: • juggling multiple priorities • more likely to ignore symptoms of a heart attack or stroke • less likely to receive the same medical treatment as men

30. Taking action What stops women from taking action to reduce their risks?

31. Taking action What do you do to maintain your heart health?

32. Suggested steps • Eat seven to eight servings of vegetables and fruit per day • Quit smoking - avoid second hand smoke • Get a minimum of 3 sessions of weight-bearing exercise plus 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week • Limit consumption of saturated and trans fats • Limit consumption of sodium to one teaspoon per day • Talk to your doctor

33. Taking action—talking to your doctor • MAKE THE TIME • Do it BEFORE you experience symptoms • Make a list of questions to ask (see handout) • Write down what your doctor says • Discuss genetic AND lifestyle factors • Ask your doctor what tests you need

34. Make a commitment to your heart health!

35. Make a commitment to your heart health! thehearttruth.ca facebook.com/thehearttruth

36. Share the truth The Heart Truth helps you share the truth with: • Interactive website: thehearttruth.ca • The Heart Truth Presentation Kit (like this one!) • The Heart Truth Viewing Party Kit • The Heart Truth Fashion Show Kit • Red Dress pin • Fundraising

37. SHARING THE TRUTH BRAINSTORM • Who could YOU share with? • What are YOUR networks?

38. You have the power! • Heart disease and stroke prevention are up to you! • It’s time to make your heart health a priority!

39. Questions?