NCWELCA - Mission Action

Mission: Action

Women's Health Issues

February is the month when we think of love---HEART MONTH. Our focus is on a keeping a healthy heart, knowing heart attack symptoms in women and heart disease facts for women.

FIVE STEPS TO A HEALTHIER HEART:

Heart disease is the #1 killer for both men and women. Research indicates that most heart attacks and other cause of heart disease death could be prevented.

STEP 1: Blood Pressure

One of the strongest predictors for heart disease is your blood pressure. Make heart-healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of blood pressure complications, such as stroke, kidney damage and heart disease.

STEP 2: Cholesterol

This is probably the most familiar heart disease risk factor. HDL or "good" cholesterol. LDL or "bad" cholesterol. Check with your doctor to learn your cholesterol levels.

STEP 3: Body Mass Index (BMI)

This is an indirect measure of your body fat. BMI uses a person’s weight and height to gauge total body fat. A BMI of 18.5 –24.9 is ideal. A BMI of 40 or more increases a person’s risk of death from any cause by 50% to 150%.

STEP 4: Blood Sugar

Overweight and too little exercise - this is what greatly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. A fasting blood sugar test is most commonly used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. A normal fasting blood sugar level is less than 100. “Take it seriously” is what some doctors may tell you.

STEP 5: Exercise

Yes, you have heard this before. The American College of Sport medicine recommends aerobic exercising three to five days a week for 30-45 minutes. Exercise that strengthens the heart comes in all shapes and sizes – biking, swimming, jogging; walking is perfectly fine. GET WITH IT! Reported by Jeanie Davis

HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN

      1.      Symptoms during the previous month (unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath)
2.      Shortness of breath
3.      Chest pain, jaw and neck pain
4.      Weakness
5.      Unusual fatigue
6.      Cold sweats
7.      Dizziness
8.      Arm pain or weakness
9.      Back pain (usually between or just below the shoulder blades
10. Nausea, indigestion or stomach pain                               Source: myDNA.com

HEART DISEASE FACTS FOR WOMEN

Cardiovascular disease in women is a very common disease and will kill above 50% of all women in the United States. Knowing more about the disease can help identify health problems before they are serious. The Top Ten Heart Disease Facts for Women is a good place to start.

10 Heart Facts for Women:

     1.      Heart disease is the #1 killer of American Women
2.      One of five women have some form of cardiovascular disease
3.      In 1999 cardiovascular disease (CVD) caused the deaths of 512,904 females, 53.5% of all deaths from CVD
4.      One out of ten women compared with one out of four men will die within one year after having a heart attack
5.      A woman’s chance of developing heart disease soar after she goes through menopause
6.      More women that men will suffer a second heart attach within six years after their first attack
7.      African American women are 60% more likely to die of coronary heart disease that white women
8.      Women with diabetes are three to four times more likely than men to develop heart disease
9.      Fewer than one in ten women today think that heart disease is their greatest health threat
10. Diabetes doubles the risk of a second heart attack in women

Source: National Women’s Health Information Center

Share this information with the women in your Congregational Unit. Practice a heart-healthy lifestyle.

February, the shortest month of the year, is packed with celebrated causes and special occasions. Feb. 1st is National Freedom Day, then there's President's Day, and of course, who can forget Valentine's Day or Groundhog Day for that matter. And for those of you who dare, there's the fun and excitement of Mardi Gras & the Daytona 500. February is also a time when we celebrate African American Heritage Month and last but not least National Heart Month-an excellent chance for Women of the ELCA to move boldly in its commitment to our Health Initiative of

Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls

The following excerpt was taken from the Health Wise section of the December 2005 Lutheran Woman Today:

-Whatever stage of life you're in, and whether you're physically fit or living with chronic illness, you can find ways to be a wise steward of your health and well-being. Our health and wholeness are important keys to responding to God's call for us and acting boldly on that call. That's why Women of the ELCA have embarked on a new health initiative for the 2005-2008 triennium: Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls. This ongoing column represents our commitment to the issue of women's health. -LWT Dec. 2005

During the Sixth triennial gathering in July, I, along with hundreds of other women (and men), boldly braved the San Antonio heat to walk (run or roll) 4K to raise money for the fight against heart disease and stroke. These are the #1 and #3 causes of death among women in America. Each participant of this event received a t-shirt. These shirts are available for anyone to purchase & I encourage each CU to purchase them for its participants and for other young women and girls who may have been affected by these diseases.

While the shirt itself is not particularly extraordinary, they are well worth the $20.00. The logo across the front is what is outstanding. It reads "Put your heart into Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls-Women of the ELCA." Most of the money goes to the research for cures and preventions and the care of women suffering from these illnesses.

The sale of t-shirts will not be enough to eradicate these diseases but we are encouraged to use such tools to educate others to engage in action and to boldly pray as we expect an end to these health issues in the future of women everywhere.

Thanks for the support!
For more information, contact Gail Starr Mission: Action committee

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