A new report launched today by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) warns that the majority of women in the UK are dangerously unaware of the deadly threat of coronary heart disease (CHD) and calls for immediate action to tackle the number one killer of women.

According to the BHF’s shocking new report¹, ‘Take Note of Your Heart’, only one in four women recognise that CHD is the single biggest threat to their life expectancy, while 40% consider cancer the greatest threat. In reality, in 2001 CHD claimed the lives of over 54,000² women in the UK – more than four times that of breast cancer.

This mistaken view is most exaggerated in younger women, when a lifestyle to prevent heart disease ideally should have been adopted. A specially commissioned survey³ showed that only around a tenth of 16-24 year olds ‘fear’ CHD, while almost half ‘fear’ lung and breast cancer.

Reviewing the current picture of women and heart disease in the UK, the report emphasises that, contrary to popular belief, heart disease is as much a woman’s problem as a man’s, and urges women to take greater responsibility for their own heart health. It also calls on the British press and TV drama to redress the balance when representing heart disease in women as well as men.

Professor Sir Charles George, Medical Director at the BHF, said:
“High profile campaigns have already successfully raised awareness of disease areas such as breast cancer – whereas, in fact, women are more at risk from CHD. The media and health professionals have a responsibility to bridge this communications gap and to help women help themselves.”
 
While death rates from CHD are falling overall, the decline in women (38%) in the UK (between 1988-1998) is slower than in men (39%) and than in women in countries such as Australia (52%) and Denmark (45%). 

In addition, despite better availability of treatments to prevent heart disease, at least 1.2 million women are now living with heart disease and this figure is rising.

Professor Sir Charles George added:
“Fighting heart disease in women is a national concern, since one in six women will die of the disease. Women of all ages need to be more aware of their hearts and turn increased knowledge into action to reduce their risks. Women should make their hearts their number one health priority and can contact the BHF for information and support to protect themselves from serious problems in the future.”

Hazel Blears, Public Health Minister, supporting the campaign, says:
“There is much that women - and men - can do to help prevent heart disease. We have set up world-class NHS smoking cessation services which have helped over 200,000 people quit for at least four weeks, and from Valentine's Day it will be illegal to advertise tobacco. We also have a comprehensive package of measures to improve nutrition and increase physical activity, both of which will contribute to tackling obesity. We are working with BHF and other partner organisations to help alert the public to CHD risk factors.”

The campaign

The new report is launched as part of the BHF’s latest educational campaign, ‘Take Note of Your Heart’, urging women to be more aware of their hearts and to take a positive step towards heart health improvement this Valentine’s Day.

• The BHF has developed a high profile national advertising campaign focusing on high blood pressure as one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease.
• The ‘Take Note of Your Heart’ Campaign Line (0870 909 0111) has been set up for the public to order the BHF’s newly updated booklet ‘Women & Heart Disease’, a jargon-free and practical guide on the subject.
• The BHF has launched a new ‘Women and Health’ website.  Accessible via www.bhf.org.uk/women it provides news and advice on heart health and disease, including facts, lifestyle tips, a message board,  a unique ‘Virtual Fridge’ healthy-eating tool, true stories of women affected by CHD and messages from celebrity campaign supporters.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE NEW REPORT

Serious lack of communication

Survey findings³ included in the new report show that four out of five women (79%) have never discussed heart disease with their GP or practice nurse.  In 16-24 year olds that figure rises to 96% – suggesting that a valuable opportunity to talk about prevention is being missed. Even 67% of women aged 65+ have never had a conversation about heart disease – despite the fact that they are at greatest risk.

Urgent need to reduce risks

The report highlights that recognition amongst women of the major ‘risk factors’⁴ for developing CHD is very low. Only 8% of women correctly named high blood cholesterol, 5% high blood pressure and 12% family history as factors which increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Current statistics on lifestyle demonstrate the need for urgent action by women to address their risks:

• 25% of all women still smoke (the rate is higher amongst young women)
• Three quarters of women fail to meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity
• Nearly a third of women are overweight and a fifth are obese
• 40% of women have high blood pressure
• More women are now suffering from diabetes – increasing their risk of CHD by at least 3 times

Tackling inequality

Although early studies suggested possible inequalities between men and women in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of CHD, the report finds that differences are small and reflect women’s increased age and medical history at presentation with heart disease, which can complicate diagnosis and treatment.

ENDS

For press enquiries or to request an interview, please call the press office on 020 7487 7172 or email pressoffice@bhf.org.uk. Out of hours please call 07764 290 381. For information about the BHF please visit our website at www.bhf.org.uk. The BHF also has an ISDN line (020 7224 2284).

Notes to editors

1. ‘Take Note of Your Heart: a review of women and heart disease in the UK 2003’, published by the BHF, February 2003.  The report is available to download at the bottom of this page or on request from the BHF.
2. BHF Coronary Heart Disease Statistics Database 2003, published January 29, 2003
3. Women and heart disease phonebus survey conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres, using a sample of 1029 women aged 16+ (September 2002).
4. The risk factors for CHD are:

• smoking
• high blood pressure
• high blood cholesterol
• diabetes
• overweight and obesity
• physical inactivity
• poor diet
• family history

5. The British Heart Foundation is a major national charity that plays a leading role in the fight against heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer. It is the largest independent funder of heart research in this country.  The Foundation also plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.

Source: http://www.bhf.org.uk/news/index.asp?secondlevel=241&thirdlevel=755&artID=3402