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| health > heart > story page |         |
Non-surgical options for women with heart diseaseMay 12, 1999
|
By Sherry Lamoreaux
(WebMD) -- Although many women believe breast cancer is their biggest health danger, coronary heart disease is the single largest killer of American women, claiming more than a half-million of them each year. And the danger is greater for women than for men -- after a heart attack, 42 percent of women die within one year, as opposed to 24 percent of men.
| DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEART DISEASE? | ||||||||||||
|
If you're a woman with heart disease, you can prevent your condition from getting worse, and even reverse it to some extent. Here are actions you can take, and some points worth considering:
Will post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) help prevent heart disease?
Most doctors are convinced that HRT can substantially lower a woman's risk of heart disease. However, in some studies, there has been a small increase in the risk for developing breast cancer, having a stroke, blood clots, or gall bladder disease. Whether HRT is appropriate for you is a decision between you and your physician.
Will an aspirin a day prevent heart disease?
Unfortunately, the studies showing beneficial effects of aspirin were all done on men, although a large trial is currently underway for women. Until the results for women are in, the decision to use aspirin is still largely an educated guess. Don't start taking aspirin without first discussing it with your physician.
Ask your doctor about the Ornish program, developed by Dr. Dean Ornish, which combines a very low-fat vegetarian diet, moderate exercise, daily stress management, group support, and psychological counseling. Many participants of the Ornish program have reversed their heart disease, but the studies about it have been done primarily on men.
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Coronary Heart Disease: the Male Disease?
Heart Disease: Rating Your Risks and Taking Action
Overcoming Heart Disease the Natural Way
How Can a Heart Attack Be Prevented?
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