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Women’s Health Awareness 2019 Features “Women, Hormones and Heart Health”

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Durham, NC – More than 610,000 individuals die of heart disease and stroke every year, but many people do not realize the vital importance of women’s heart health. In fact, cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading killers among women in the United States. Before the onset of menopause, women have a lower risk of heart disease than men; however, these odds change drastically as estrogen levels decline. By the time a woman is 65, her odds of dying from a heart attack are higher than a man’s, and heart disease is the primary cause of death for women after menopause.

Women often present with atypical symptoms that may go unrecognized for quite some time before a diagnosis of heart disease is made. In general, women with conditions such as heart attacks tend to have poorer outcomes due to this lack of awareness and delay in receiving medical attention for symptoms. Education of cardiac illnesses in women will hopefully lead to the awareness to seek medical attention sooner, leading to better outcomes following treatment.” 

“Community education is at the foundation of raising awareness of heart disease in women.” – Dr. Khyati Baxi, a Duke cardiologist

Duke Heart and the Duke Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology will present a two-part educational session entitled “Women, Hormones and Heart Health” at Women’s Health Awareness 2019.  Participants will learn about prevention and management of heart disease, review the impact of stress on heart disease, and receive practical information on dietary links to cardiovascular disease, among other key points.

Duke Heart and the Duke Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology will present a two-part educational session entitled “Women, Hormones and Heart Health” at Women’s Health Awareness 2019.  

“Women who attend this session will learn about the menopausal transition and its effect on cardiovascular health risk factors. We will also cover a variety of options for managing the symptoms of menopause.  For those not yet at menopausal age, we will also discuss how cardiovascular risk factors may impact choice of contraceptive agents or management of difficult menstrual periods.” – Dr. MargEva Cole

Women approaching menopause often have many questions about how to approach this time of life in the healthiest, safest way possible.  For these sessions, participants will:

  • Engage in learning how menopause impacts heart health risk factors.
  • Learn about prevention and management of cardiovascular disease through diet, exercise, and lifestyle modification.
  • Receive practical information on the dietary links to cardiovascular disease.
  • Be provided with suggestions on how to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Learn why women are much more likely to have atypical symptoms than men.
  • Review the impact of stress on heart disease in women.
  • Become updated on screenings women need to become more self-aware of women’s health issues that impact heart disease.
  • Participate in Q&A panel discussion with a leading cardiologist and OB/GYN from Duke University Hospital.

The session will be chaired by Leatrice Martin, senior program coordinator for Duke Heart’s Community Outreach and Education Program, with presentations and question/answer sessions by Duke Health’s MargEva Cole, MD, Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Khyati, Baxi, MD Cardiologist, Duke Health Heritage Cardiology.

heart healthAdditionally, Duke Heart will provide free Heart Health risk factor screenings during the event. This will be Duke Health’s fourth year participating in Women’s Health Awareness Day and serving Durham and surrounding communities.

Women’s Health Awareness 2019 will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2019 on the campus of North Carolina Central University.  The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is the lead sponsor with co-sponsors Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Durham Alumnae Delta House, Inc., and North Carolina Central University Department of Health Education.

On-site registration is available.  For more information about Women’s Health Awareness 2019 go to www.niehs.nih.gov/whad or call 984-287-4414.