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Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 08:42:11 -0500
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Conversation: HEART DISEASE DEATHS IN AMERICAN WOMEN DECLINE
Subject: HEART DISEASE DEATHS IN AMERICAN WOMEN DECLINE
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
NIH News
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
<http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 1, 2007
CONTACT: NHLBI Communications Office, 301-496-4236,
<e-mail: [log in to unmask]>
HEART DISEASE DEATHS IN AMERICAN WOMEN DECLINE
17,000 fewer women died of heart disease; awareness continues to climb.
New York -- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the
National Institutes of Health announced today that the number of heart
disease deaths in American women is decreasing. Newly analyzed data shows
that the number of women who die from heart disease has shifted from 1 in 3
women to 1 in 4 -- a decrease of nearly 17,000 deaths from 2003 to 2004.
"The good news announced today shows that "The Heart Truth" awareness
campaign is helping," said Mrs. Laura Bush. "When I first heard that heart
disease is the number one killer of women, I was surprised. I joined 'The
Heart Truth' -- and its national Red Dress project - to raise women's
awareness and fight back against heart disease. By learning about heart
disease, and taking action to reduce risk factors, women can save their own
lives."
"Today, on National Wear Red Day, we have much to celebrate with the release
of this data. It is very good news indeed," said Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D.,
director of NHLBI. "To see such a significant reduction in deaths
underscores that the efforts of many individuals and organizations to raise
awareness, improve treatment and access, and inspire women to take action
are truly saving lives."
NHLBI experts analyzed preliminary data for 2004, the most recent year for
which data are available. This analysis showed that the last few years in
particular have seen a steady decline in the number of heart disease deaths
in women -- deaths have gone down in each of the five years from 2000 to
2004, a consecutive yearly decline which has not occurred before.
Furthermore, in 2004, life expectancy at birth reached an all-time high for
women: 80.4 years. "The steady decline in heart disease mortality has
certainly contributed to this trend," said Dr. Nabel.
Additionally, significant progress has been made in increasing awareness
among women that heart disease is their leading killer -- up from 34 percent
in 2000 to 55 percent in 2005. "We are confident that recent advancements
in the women and heart disease movement have helped to propel this change,"
said Dr. Nabel. "More women are aware that heart disease is their leading
killer, and research shows that this heightened awareness is leading them to
take action to reduce their risk. They are more likely to step up their
physical activity, eat healthier, and lose weight."
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Heart disease continues to be the
leading killer of women, yet many women still do not take heart disease
seriously or personally, and millions have one or more of the risk factors
which can dramatically increase their risk of developing the condition.
And, by just about any measure -- from awareness of risks, to prevalence of
risk factors, to numbers of deaths -- heart disease remains more serious
among women of color. "Our goal continues to be achieving even greater
awareness and contributing to the trend of steady decline in deaths," said
Dr. Nabel.
In New York today, NHLBI, through The Heart Truth campaign, continues its
awareness efforts by returning to New York Fashion Week for the fifth year
with its signature platform -- the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show.
NHLBI's introduction of "The Heart Truth's" Red Dress as the national symbol
for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 sparked a national movement
that has united partners to promote the common goal of a greater awareness
of heart disease and better heart health for all women. The Red Dress is
fast becoming one of the most recognizable health symbols in the United
States.
In a 2007 survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson on behalf of "The Heart
Truth", 57 percent of U.S. women recognized the Red Dress as the national
symbol for women and heart disease, up from 39 percent awareness in 2006 and
25 percent in 2005.
Walking in this year's Fashion Show -- presented by Johnson & Johnson and
affiliated companies, with national sponsors Celestial Seasonings and
Swarovski, and media partner Lifetime -- are "Celebrated Women" including:
Angela Bassett, Betsey Johnson, Billie Jean King, Camilla Belle, Danica
Patrick, Katharine McPhee, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Kimberly Guilfoyle,
Kristin Chenoweth, Lauren Hutton, Mae Jamison, Natalie Morales, Paula Zahn,
Phylicia Rashad, Rachael Ray, and Sheila Johnson. The Red Dress Collection
2007 Fashion Show will be presented at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week today at
11:00 a.m. featuring red dresses created exclusively for "The Heart Truth"
to remind women of their #1 health threat.
Participating designers in the 2007 Collection include: Alia Khan, Alidio
Michelli, Betsey Johnson, Bill Blass, Bob Mackie, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc
Valvo, Carolina Herrera, Daniel Swarovski, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna
Karan, Douglas Hannant, Ellen Tracy, Gustavo Cadile, Jovovich-Hawk, Kenneth
Cole, Lyn Devon, Max Azria Atelier, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Nicole
Miller, Oscar de la Renta, Rebecca Taylor, Tracy Reese, and Zac Posen.
"The Heart Truth" aims to spread the word that heart disease is largely
preventable. In fact, just by leading a healthy lifestyle -- such as
following a heart healthy eating plan, getting regular physical activity,
maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking -- Americans can lower their
risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent.
Some risk factors, such as age (55 or older for women) and a family history
of early heart disease, can't be changed. Women can, however, control
certain risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol,
diabetes, smoking, being overweight or obese, and being physically inactive.
Eighty percent of midlife women (ages 40 to 60) have one or more of these
risk factors. Having even one risk factor doubles a woman's chance of
developing heart disease, and having three or more risk factors increases
the risk tenfold.
ABOUT "THE HEART TRUTH AND THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SURVEY"
The Harris Interactive survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson and
affiliated companies on behalf of "The Heart Truth", was conducted by
telephone within the United States between January 18 and January 21, 2007
among 1,015 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, geographic
region, and race were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with
their actual proportions in the population. With a pure probability sample
of 1,015 one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the
overall results would have a sampling error of +/- three percentage points.
Sampling error for the sub-samples of men (n= 505) and women (n= 510) would
be higher and would vary. However that does not take other sources of error
into account.
"The Heart Truth" partners include: The Office on Women's Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; the American Heart Association;
WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and other
organizations committed to the health and well-being of women. To learn
more, visit <http://www.hearttruth.gov>.
For additional information, visit <http://media.hearttruth.ogilvypr.com/>.
For downloadable images and photography, please visit www.hearttruth.gov or
<http://hearttruth.ogilvypr.com> or email your inquiry to <email:
[log in to unmask]>.
SATELLITE INFORMATION
For feed information or hard copy requests, please contact Rebecca Reissman
at News Broadcast Network at (800) 920-6397 x211.
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 2007
7:30-7:45 PM (ET)
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SATURDAY, FEB. 3, 2007 3:30-4:00 PM (ET)
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MONDAY, FEB. 5, 2007 1:30-1:45 PM (ET)
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Please Note: Participants in "The Heart Truth's" Red Dress Collection 2007
Fashion Show were confirmed at time of release and are subject to change.
Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans, conducts, and supports research related to
the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel,
lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also
administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease,
healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and
other materials are available online at <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov>.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research
Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency
for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs,
visit <www.nih.gov>.
###
This NIH News Release is available online at:
<http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2007/nhlbi-01.htm>.
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