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About Women's Health
Research shows that women acquire most of their information concerning heart disease from television and magazines. However, because every woman is unique, relying on mass media for advice isn’t the best way to stay healthy. Your best resource for minimizing your risk for heart disease is your primary care physician.

Ask the Right Questions
“Every woman should have an annual checkup during which she should ask her primary care physician certain questions,” suggests Dr. Claire Duvernoy, a cardiologist at the University of Michigan Health System. “This is important to help maintain overall health, and to assess for problems, such as heart disease,” says Dr. Duvernoy. Questions to ask your PCP include:
• What are my risk factors for heart disease?
• What are the warning signs/symptoms of heart disease?
• Should I lose or gain weight? How?
• What is a healthy eating plan for me?
• What kind of physical activity is right for me?
• Does my blood pressure put me at risk for heart disease?
• What is my triglyceride level? (High blood levels of triglycerides may be an important risk factor for women.)
• What are my cholesterol levels?
• What should I know about the effects of menopause on my health?
• Based on my personal health history and risk factors, what can I do to lower my risk of heart disease?

The Hormone Question
Both male and female hormones can affect a woman’s risk of heart disease. Female hormones tend to raise “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower total blood cholesterol. Male hormones have the opposite effect. Since low HDL is a strong predictor of heart disease in women, your PCP should help you weigh the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy.

For women taking oral contraceptives, there is only a slight increased risk for heart disease. However, a woman should make sure her annual checkups include measuring blood pressure, triglycerides, and glucose—especially if she smokes or has other risk factors.

For postmenopausal women, past research suggested that postmenopausal estrogen therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. New research shows less difference.

“If a woman is taking hormones for osteoporosis or menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy can offer advantages,” says Dr. Duvernoy. “That’s why it’s important to discuss the effect of hormones on your heart with your PCP.”

Testing, Testing
To detect heart disease, your physician may suggest a test. Some tests include: chest X-ray; CT scan; echocardiogram; MRI; exercise stress test; Holter monitor; electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac catheterization; and a thallium stress test.

Although the exercise stress test has been a conventional choice, research is finding that it may be less accurate for women than men. Thallium and imaging stress tests or echocardiograms are proving to be better diagnostic tools for women.

A visit to your PCP is an opportunity to learn how to keep your heart as healthy as possible. Use it!
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