Submitted article
Mansfield, OH – Many women don’t realize aging makes heart disease likelier. To combat this problem, teams from Brookdale senior living communities nationwide are fanning out to personally alert women ages 65 and over to their increased risk and provide resources to fight it. The company hopes to reach 10,000 older women through “10,000 Heart to Hearts,” beginning Feb. 1.
“Cardiac disease kills more women than all cancers combined,” said Brookdale chief medical officer Kevin O’Neil, M.D., F.A.C.P. “On average, women develop heart disease 10 years later than men, with their first heart attack occurring at age 70.”
By their 70s, most women have hypertension and aging makes it harder to cope with cardiac disease’s impact.
“Three-quarters of older women who survive heart attacks can’t resume their normal lives,” said Dr. O’Neil. “However, healthy habits can dramatically reduce risk.” He noted a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows lifestyle changes can decrease the likelihood of female heart disease by 90 percent.
Through 10,000 Heart to Hearts, Brookdale professionals will visit older women in their homes to explain the risk, check blood pressure, discuss healthier lifestyles, provide Brookdale’s heart-healthy cookbook and food, and connect them with resources. There is no charge for the visits, which will include women with Alzheimer’s.
To schedule a visit, contact Sterling House of Mansfield at 419-756-5599, go to brookdale.com or call toll-free 866-869-7711. The program will also be available to residents in Crawford County. Older women and others concerned about heart disease are invited to ask questions of Brookdale chief medical officer Dr. O’Neil in a free webinar at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. PT., Feb. 18. For information about registering for the webinar, call 419-756-5599 and ask for Crystle Stephenson, Executive Director.