Helping Women Change the Odds Against Their Number 1 Health Threat.
Heart disease survivor Paula Rice of New York has straightforward advice for every woman: if you have not seen your doctor lately, schedule an appointment right away. Two years ago, when Paula began to experience nausea and fatigue, heart disease was the last thing on her mind. She discussed her symptoms with family members, friends, and workmates; yet she never told a doctor. She chose to fight through her symptoms, hoping that they would soon pass. Everything changed several days later when she found herself almost completely out of breath while climbing the subway stairs. Soon after, she went into atrial fibrillation and had a cardiac arrest. Today, as a volunteer advocate for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement, Paula is sharing her story with women across the country, hoping that her example will serve as a reminder of why it is important to make room on the calendar to see a doctor. Stories like Paula's are a key reason why Go Red For Women is encouraging every woman to schedule a well woman visit, an annual prevention check up to discuss your overall health, lifestyle, blood pressure, and cholesterol and to look for signs of heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses. For most women, a well woman visit has no additional costs because of the Affordable Care Act and is separate from other appointments for specific sicknesses or injuries. However, women should check with their health insurance plan for preventive service coverage before scheduling the visit. A 2013 survey by Go Red For Women found that at least 20% of women had put off preventive services in the past year because of cost concerns. Today, it is likely that many women still are not taking full advantage of benefits like the well woman visit. Our vision is to create a
Circulation. Cardiovascular quality and outcomes