Women’s Heart Problems Being Ignored

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ — New research showing that women’s heart problems are being underestimated, underdiagnosed and undertreated demonstrates that women must take more active charge of their own heart health. One way is to get a free heart screening at National Woman’s Heart Day Health Fairs this Friday, February 18th in 12 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. (see http://www.sistertosister.org/ for times and locations).

The fairs are sponsored by Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a Heart Foundation, Inc.(R). Women who cannot attend a health fair are urged to see their doctors for a screening as soon as possible.

Heart disease is the leading killer of American women, responsible for more deaths than breast cancer and all types of cancer combined. However, most heart disease can be prevented, and women can substantially lower their risk through simple lifestyle changes. All women should be screened for heart disease, since many conditions that put women at risk, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, are hard to detect without screening.

“Heart disease kills one out of three American women,” said Irene Pollin, founder and President of Sister to Sister. “Providing heart screenings so women can learn about their personal risk factors and how to reduce them is a key step in prevention and treatment,” she added.

The free ten-minute heart health screenings measure cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index, provide on-the-spot results, an overall risk assessment and medical counseling. The fairs also feature fitness, beauty and cooking demonstrations, and giveaways. Participants can take seminars from nationally known experts on diabetes, nutrition, obesity, fitness, quitting smoking and stress management, all key to heart disease prevention.

“The good news is that women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent through simple lifestyle changes,” said Pollin. “Women, who do so much for others, must take care of their own hearts. It may be the best ten minutes they ever spend!”

Bank of America is this year’s presenting national sponsor. Other sponsors include America Online, Discovery Health Channel, and iVillage. Government partners include the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sister to Sister is a nonprofit foundation whose mission is:

* To make women more aware that heart disease is the number one killer of

women

* To offer free nationwide heart health screenings for women, the first

step toward prevention

* To encourage women of all ages and backgrounds to adopt heart healthy

lifestyles

For more information, please visit online at http://www.sistertosister.org/.

Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a Heart Foundation, Inc.

CONTACT: Karen Pasternack, +1-212-601-8049, orKaren.Pasternack@Porternovelli.com, for Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a HeartFoundation, Inc.

Web site: http://www.sistertosister.org/