News

Many Canadian women not doing enough to protect their heart

June 03, 2008

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country, but a new survey from the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) reveals that many Canadian women still possess little knowledge about their own risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and are not taking the time to address these risk factors.

Results from the LIPitor: Women’S InsighTs Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) survey, conducted by Leger Marketing, reveal that while nearly all Canadian women aged 40-plus (94 percent) say that having healthy cholesterol levels are important to them, the reality is that cholesterol is not top-of-mind.

A total of 2,000 Canadian women, aged 40 and over, participated in the on-line survey.

According to LIPSTICK, nearly half of women surveyed (46 percent) spend the most time thinking about their weight, versus only 5 percent who think about their cholesterol levels. In fact, only one in 10 women surveyed knew their personal LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) levels, versus the more than six in 10 women (64 percent) who know how much they weighed in high school.

The survey further revealed that four in 10 women aged 40-plus have not had their cholesterol checked in the past year, despite the risk of elevated cholesterol and heart disease increasing with age.

Moreover, although three in 10 Canadian women surveyed have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, one in six of those do not get their cholesterol levels checked on a yearly basis.

‘Knowing all your vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking, is a very important step in the prevention of heart disease,’ said Dr. Nahid Azad, associate professor with the University of Ottawa and a member of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC).

‘The good news is it is never too late to take action. Women need to work with their physician to identify their personal risk, and steps they can take to reduce their chances of cardiovascular disease, through diet and lifestyle changes, and medication if necessary.’

More than half of Canadian women surveyed are unaware of the fact that more women than men die of heart disease every year. Heart disease and stroke kill one third of women, and women are more likely than men to die of a heart attack or stroke.

Although the odds are against them, the survey revealed that few women acknowledge their personal risk for heart disease. More than one third of Canadian women surveyed (37 percent) may underestimate their own risk for heart disease, believing they are ‘not at risk’ for developing heart disease, or only to a ‘very small extent.’

Most women fail to make the connection between risk factors, such as high cholesterol, and their personal chance of developing heart disease.

In fact, an alarming 80 percent of Canadian women surveyed report having two or more risk factors – such as age, diabetes, high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure – which puts them at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

‘More women than men face the threat of a heart attack or stroke,’ said Dr. Mussarat Qaadri, Toronto-based physician and branch president of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC).

‘LIPSTICK reinforces that Canadian women must take action to ensure they make their heart health a priority.’

Women need to do more to reduce their risk

The survey revealed that 15 percent of Canadian women diagnosed with high cholesterol are not exercising in an effort to improve their overall health and reduce their cholesterol levels and subsequent risk for cardiovascular disease. For the majority, the reason for not exercising is simply a lack of motivation.

‘My father passed away from a massive heart attack and this was a huge wake up call for me to go to my doctor to find out my own risk for heart disease,’ said Rita Cascagnette, aged 43.

‘After my doctor diagnosed me with high cholesterol, I started to pay more attention to my own health. I now exercise regularly, watch what I eat and help manage my high cholesterol with a statin.’

LIPSTICK was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Canada Inc.

Source: Federation of Medical Women of Canada

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