On February 15, 2011, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued updated Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines specifically for women. The updated guidelines for women focus more on practical medical advice that works in the “real-world” rather than recommendations based only on clinical research.
Highlights of the 2011 Guidelines listed by the AHA include:
“* Updated cardiovascular prevention guidelines for women focus on what works best in the “real world” vs. clinical research settings and consider personal and socioeconomic factors that can keep women from following medical advice and treatment.
* The guidelines also incorporate illnesses that increase heart disease risk in women, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy complications
* Helping women ― and their doctors ― understand risks and take practical steps can be most effective in preventing heart disease and stroke.”
First published in 1999, the guidelines until this new 2011 update have been primarily based on findings observed in clinical research. Clinical research alone often does not consider the personal and socioeconomic factors that can affect a woman’s ability to follow medical advice and treatment.
“These recommendations underscore the fact that benefits of preventive measures seen day-to-day in doctors’ offices often fall short of those reported for patients in research settings,” said Lori Mosca, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., chair of the guidelines writing committee and a medical advisor for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement.
Read information from the American Heart Association about the new guidelines at » 2011 Women’s Guidelines. Links to a downloadable PDF document containing the actual Guidelines, as well as statistics on heart disease and stroke are provided.
Read the full journal article by the American Heart Association on “Effectiveness-Based Guidelines for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women 2011 Update: A Guideline From the American Heart Association”
The issuance of these updated Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines For Women is part of the American Heart Association’s “February is American Heart Month” campaign. Statistics show that heart disease is the No 1 killer in America. The American Heart Association designates February as Heart Month to focus attention on efforts to prevent and fight this deadly disease. Visit the website of the American Heart Association to learn more.
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