VHA to launch national program: Women's HeartAdvantage.(Brief Article)

2002 MAR 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. although new research reveals that fewer than 3 of 10 women view heart disease as a major health risk.

VHA Inc. has introduced a model program, Women's HeartAdvantage, as part of a national initiative to change behavior about heart disease.

VHA, a national alliance of 2200 health care organizations and their physicians, is collaborating with hospitals in 15 major markets across the nation to implement the first hospital-based program to address the greatest health threat to women. The goals of the initiative are to improve cardiovascular health and quality of life through the prevention, detection and treatment of risk factors; early identification and treatment of heart attacks; and prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events in women. The program is intended to raise awareness and change behavior among women about steps to prevent heart attacks and how to recognize when a heart attack is occurring, since the symptoms can be different for women than men.

To address this largely unrecognized health crisis, VHA conducted nationwide and market-specific benchmarking research on the attitudes and awareness among women about heart disease.

"Our research revealed a real 'disconnect' for women about women and heart disease," said Dr. Nancy Wilson, VHA. "Many of the women surveyed have risk factors such as high cholesterol and obesity, yet they don't recognize that these risks can directly lead to heart attacks. In comparison, the first thing a woman thinks of when she feels a lump is cancer."

Key findings from the Women's HeartAdvantage research include:

* The majority of women, 52%, believe that breast cancer is their greatest health threat; only about 30% believe that heart disease is women's leading health threat.