CONTACT:

Susan Laine 202-728-7199, slaine@womenheart.org

ATTENTION PLANNING AND HEALTH EDITORS

Real Life Stories and Top Medical Experts Available from WomenHeart

WHO: WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the only national organization dedicated solely to the support and advocacy for women with and at risk of heart disease. During Heart Month WomenHeart Champions are mobilized across the country to speak out about women and heart disease. “WomenHeart Champions are all women living with heart disease. They are the ‘boots on the ground’ in our effort to educate women, their families and the medical community about a woman’s risk for heart disease. Each has their own personal and compelling story of courage and survival,” said Lisa M. Tate, CEO.

During Heart Month and throughout the year, WomenHeart Champions speak to thousands of women and distribute 100,000 Red Bags of Courage filled with vital educational information.

WHAT: WomenHeart has the only known database of more than 300 women living with heart disease, who want to share their stories. We can help you find stories by diagnosis and WomenHeart spokespeople can tell you their stories in 17 different languages. Contact Susan Laine 202-728-7199.

Story ideas and content:

Family Matters: All Denise Sullivan, 48, could think about as she entered the hospital for heart surgery was that her daughter, Chelsea, 16, was the same age as she was when her own dad died from heart disease complications. Already on cholesterol-lowering medication, Chelsea is 10 times more at risk for heart disease because of her family history. Read this amazing story of resilience in the face of high risk and learn how this family copes with the genetic cards they have been dealt. Denise’s story.

Heart Disease is NOT Just a Man’s Disease: Life-threatening differences persist in the way men and women are treated for cardiovascular events and disease. Why and what can be done about it? Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and WomenHeart scientific advisor responds. Q&A with Dr. Hayes.

The HEART for Women Act will be introduced in Congress on February 12! HEART for Women Act is the only federal legislation aimed at combating heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in women. Talk with Lisa M. Tate, WomenHeart CEO or Carol Allred, WomenHeart President and heart attack survivor, about what this legislation means for all women and how they can mobilize to support this landmark legislation.

Heart Attack Warning Symptoms and Signs. Heart attack warning signs do not come in one neat package, especially in women. Women may ignore a nagging pain or exhaustion, because they simply do not recognize the symptoms, chalk it up to “normal”, or because they are too busy taking care of others. And some physicians are not taking women’s symptoms seriously because they are not familiar with the nature of heart disease in women. How can we break this endless circle of doubt and disparity and what exactly should a woman do to get through to her doctor when she believes she is having a heart attack? Talk with one of WomenHeart’s scientific advisors. Contact Susan Laine 202-728-7199 x223

THE WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

• Discomfort, tightness, uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes, or comes and goes
• Crushing chest pain
• Pressure or pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, upper back, jaw, or arms.
• Dizziness or nausea
• Clammy sweats, heart flutters, or paleness
• Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue or weakness - especially with exertion
• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Find more important heart health tips and information at www.womenheart.org. Click on Support for Women.

WHY: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. •Eight million American women are currently living with coronary heart disease; and 36 million are living with multiple risk factors for heart disease. •Annually more than 250,000 women die from acute myocardial infarction or heart attack. •Heart disease is less understood in women, leading to misdiagnoses and delayed or incorrect medical treatment. •Roughly, only a quarter of research published in major US internal medicine and cardiology journals reports gender-specific outcomes. • Learn more facts about women and heart disease at

www.womenheart.org.

WomenHeart is the only national, patient-centered organization dedicated to advancing women’s heart health through advocacy, community education and patient support. A nonprofit advocacy organization, WomenHeart is a community of women heart patients and their families, health care providers, advocates and consumers committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. To learn more about the WomenHeart programs, such as the 2009 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic, visit www.womenheart.org.  

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