Heart disease is more commonly associated as a problem for men, yet it is the most

common cause of death for women, accounting for 1 in 5 female deaths, as discussed on the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Even with rising awareness, only about half
of women understand heart disease is their number one cause of death, stated by CDC. The CDC
notes heart disease is the leading cause of death in African American and White women, with
approximately one in 16 women affected age 20 and older.
The Mayo Clinic website points out that women with heart disease show symptoms
differently from men, though most women do not know what to look for or assume their
symptoms are the same as what men experience. Both men and women have chest pain or
discomfort when they experience a heart attack, but women have a higher correlation to
symptoms dissimilar to chest pain and discomfort, The Mayo Clinic states. The Mayo Clinic
continues that symptoms may be indefinable, and women typically experience them more
frequently when resting or asleep. Because of these differences between men and women,
women are diagnosed at a lower rate, and since women do not always recognize symptoms, they
arrive at the emergency room after damage to the heart has transpired, The Mayo Clinic
describes. Treatment for heart disease is virtually the same for men and women including
medications, angioplasty and stenting, or coronary bypass surgery; however, some treatments
have a higher complication risk for women, The Mayo Clinic says.
Women’s heart health needs to be a major focus for Carilion Clinic. As a not–for–profit
health care organization based in Roanoke, Va., our comprehensive network of nine hospitals,
primary and specialty physician practices and other complementary services work together to
provide quality care close to home for nearly 1 million people in central and southwestern
Virginia and southern West Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Health,
cardiovascular disease represents the most significant cause of death in Virginia, with an
estimated 5.9 percent of the population or 365,842 Virginians living with a variety of
cardiovascular diseases. 4.8 percent of the female population in Virginia suffer from heart
disease. 6.4 percent of white women and 6.1 percent of African American women in Virginia
suffer from heart disease. The region with the highest percentage of heart disease – 8.7 percent –
is southwest Virginia, Carilion’s service area. A strategic communications campaign which
focuses on women’s heart health aligns with our mission: an enduring commitment to the health
of our region, seeking to advance care through medical education and research, help our
community stay healthy and inspire our region to grow stronger, explained on the Carilion Clinic
website, Carilion prioritizes women’s health as an area of clinical expertise.
This campaign needs to reach three targeted publics. While this campaign needs to target
women in general, it needs to specifically reach African American women, White women, and
families. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity,
obesity and a family history of heart disease are all greatly prevalent among African Americans
and pose major risk factors for heart disease and stroke, as explained on the American Heart
Association website. While the death rate among African American women is 165.7 per 100,000,
White women are not far behind with a rate of 132.4 per 100,000, as stated on the Healthline
website. Families play a vital role in awareness, education, and support. As noted by The Mayo
Clinic, many assume heart disease is a problem predominately in men and the symptoms
experienced are aligned with symptoms men face. Providing education to families and breaking
the stigma that it is a problem among men can help expedite care for women by understanding
the signs and symptoms.
 Carilion should support the following for promoting healthy hearts in women, as stated
by The Mayo Clinic:
• Quit smoking. If you don't smoke, don't start. Try to avoid exposure to secondhand
smoke, which also can damage blood vessels.
• Exercise regularly. In general, everybody should do moderate exercise, such as walking
at a brisk pace, on most days of the week.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor what weight is best for you. If you're
overweight, losing even a few pounds can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of
diabetes.
• Eat a healthy diet. Opt for whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or
fat-free dairy products, and lean meats. Avoid saturated or trans fats, added sugars, and
high amounts of salt.
• Manage your stress. Stress can cause your arteries to tighten, which can increase your
risk of heart disease, particularly coronary microvascular disease.
• Limit alcohol. If you have more than one drink a day, cut back. One drink is
approximately 12 ounces (360 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (150 milliliters) of wine or
1.5 ounces (45 milliliters) of distilled spirits, such as vodka or whiskey.
• Follow your treatment plan. Take your medications as prescribed, such as blood
pressure medications, blood thinners and aspirin.
• Manage other health conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
increase the risk of heart disease.
To advocate these strategies, we should partner with outdoor festivals, such as the annual
Anthem GO Outside Festival, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and
encourage healthy, active outside recreation which combine the things outdoor enthusiasts
love - camping, music, gear, races, and demos. GO Fest celebrates of everything outdoors.
Roanoke GO Fest is a partnership between the nonprofit Roanoke Outside Foundation and
the City of Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation, as discussed on the Roanoke GO
Festival website. We can provide a table with handouts and a representative to discuss
symptoms and treatment of heart disease, check blood pressure, schedule an appointment for
preliminary heart screening tests, and tying in the need for physical activity, such as the
activities at GO Festival, and healthy eating to combat heart disease.
We can provide information on women’s heart disease on the Carilion website which will
help women and their families become more knowledgeable about the issue and help
promote existing Carilion resources, such as the Chest Pain Center in Roanoke, Cardiac
Rehabilitation, and the Heart Failure Clinic in Christiansburg, as stated on the Carilion Clinic
website.
Implementing a communications campaign for women’s heart health will benefit
Carilion’s patients and the communities we serve. As stated in our 2018 annual report, rather
than view health solely through the lens of disease, we should emphasize prevention and
wellness to address factors long before people wind up in an emergency room or one of our
hospitals. Educating and promoting healthier lifestyles will result in a healthier population
and lower healthcare costs for Carilion and our patients.
 Reference List

Carilion Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://carilionclinic.org/search?q=Women's Health.

GO Outside Festival - Roanoke VA - Free! (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.roanokegofest.com/.

Heart Disease in African-American Women. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts/heart-disease-in
african-american-women.

Home: Carilion Clinic Annual Report. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://reports.carilionclinic.org/.

How heart disease is different for women. (2019, October 4). Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art\
20046167.

Thomas, J. (2019, March 27). Facts and Statistics on Heart Disease. Retrieved from
https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/statistics#1.

Women and Heart Disease. (2018, September 4). Retrieved from

https://carilionclinicliving.com/article/women/women-and-heart-disease.

Women and Heart Disease. (2019, May 14). Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm.