Women still underestimating heart disease as greatest health risk.

2004 MAR 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A survey of 500 women ages 35 years and older residing in Orange and Los Angeles counties, California, shows that women still underestimate heart disease as their greatest health risk.

Sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, California, and PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PHS), the local survey showed that 47% of Orange County women recognize heart disease as the leading cause of death among women and that 38% see heart disease as the greatest risk to their health; however, 57% were more worried about getting cancer over heart disease (27%).

"Another eye-opening statistic revealed that 66% of the women surveyed in Orange County said their doctors have not discussed heart disease with them," said Wendy Kuran, vice president of PacifiCare's Women's Health Solutions. "This shows that healthcare providers can play a very important role in educating women of the risks associated with heart disease.

"We partnered with St. Joseph Hospital to commission this study so that we could better gauge perceptions among women about heart disease and enhance our programs in order to provide our members more access to better treatment methods," she said.

Other findings reveal that 8% of the women surveyed in Orange County have suffered from a heart attack or stroke or have been diagnosed with heart disease. Additionally, among the Orange County women surveyed:

*89% believe heart disease is preventable;

*24% believe men and women experience the same symptoms of heart attacks (according to the American Heart Association, symptoms vary between women and men);