IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR WOMEN
ONE PILL…. MANY BENEFITS
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women. (12) Nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Some women are at significant risk of future heart attack or stroke because they already have coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or multiple risk factors.
A study of nearly 40, 000 initially healthy women 45 years of age or older found that daily aspirin therapy for women reduced the risk of a first stroke by nearly 25%, and in women over 65 years of age, it decreased the likelihood of both heart attack and stroke. (35) New research and guidelines from the U.S Preventative Services Task Force Update recommend the use of aspirin for women age 55 to 79 when the CVD benefit outweighs the potential harm of side effects. (36)
Aggressively managing risk factors can result in heart attack and stroke prevention in women. For women who already have a previous history of heart attack and stroke, control of risk factors can delay or even halt the progression of the disease, and strongly improve outcomes.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors Include:
- Age (+55)
- Heredity (family history)
- Previous heart attack or stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA is a warning or mini stroke)
- Post-menopausal, or having your ovaries removed
- Race (African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease
than Caucasians)
Controllable risk factors include:
- Elevated total cholesterol
- Low HDL ("good" cholesterol)
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity (more than 20% over one's ideal body weight).
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Stress
OTHER RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN:
- High triglyceride levels
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Use of birth control pills, especially if also a smoker
REDUCE THE RISK OF A SECOND HEART ATTACK OR STROKE
Women can reap the benefits of low strength daily aspirin therapy. Equivalent to half a regular aspirin, 162 mg daily aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of having a stroke in women and can potentially prevent a second heart attack. Because women seem to have stronger hearts, and heart disease sets in later in women, aspirin therapy is usually only suggested for women over 55 with several risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Women with diabetes, women who smoke and those with other indicators may be given a regimen of low dose aspirin to help prevent further problems. An aspirin chewed within 30 minutes of the onset of a heart attack can reduce permanent damage done to your heart. (10).
If you are a woman interested in reducing your risk of heart attack — or a woman who wishes to prevent a second heart attack — discuss the possible risks and benefits a daily aspirin regimen could have for you with your doctor before starting any medication.
