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8 • • Thursday, June 25, 2026
How Women Can Optimize Health to Combat Cardiovascular Disease

(Feature Impact) The threat of types of CVD, including heart dis-
heart disease and stroke is growing ease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation
substantially among women and and stroke.
girls as rates climb for health factors “Cardiovascular disease is the
such as high blood pressure, diabe- leading cause of death for women
tes and obesity, with 6 in 10 U.S. and remains their No. 1 health risk
women projected to have at least overall,” said Stacey E. Rosen,
one type of cardiovascular disease M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of
(CVD) by 2050. the American Heart Association and
This information from a new executive director of the Katz Insti-
scientific statement published in tute for Women’s Health and senior
Circulation, the peer-reviewed, vice president of women’s health at
flagship journal of the American Northwell Health. “While many
Heart Association, a global force people may think conditions like
changing the future of health for all, high blood pressure are only occur-
points to a rise in CVD that’s in part ring in older women, we know this
fueled by increases in other health is not the case. We know the factors
factors like diabetes and obesity. that contribute to heart disease and
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Nearly 32% of girls ages 2-19 may stroke begin early in life, even
have obesity by 2050, highlighting among young women and girls. The other psychosocial stressors. Identi- tors (manage weight, control choles-
the impact even on younger genera- impact is even greater among those fying the types of trends outlined in terol, manage blood sugar and
tions. experiencing adverse social deter- this report is critical to making manage blood pressure) that com-
Findings from the report point to minants of health such as poverty, meaningful changes that can re- prise the American Heart Associa-
increases among women for all low literacy, rural residence and verse this course.” tion’s Life’s Essential 8.
However, there is positive Health Behaviors
news: Rates of high cholesterol are Promote healthy choices in the
expected to decline among nearly places where people learn, live and
all groups of women, and improve- receive care, like schools, communi-
ments are expected in some health ty centers, pediatric clinics and gy-
behaviors that impact CVD, includ- necology offices. Use digital tools,
ing healthier eating, more physical when helpful, to encourage and rein-
activity and less smoking. force positive lifestyle changes.
Wed
The most efficient and effective Health Factors
way to reduce the prevalence of Managing chronic conditions
CVD is through prevention, priori- like high blood pressure, diabetes
tizing optimal health through the and obesity early can make a differ-
four health behaviors (eat better, be ence, especially for women at higher
more active, quit tobacco and get risk. Work with your health care
healthy sleep) and four health fac- team to prioritize long-term support
for managing these conditions, in-
cluding early check-ins, team-based
TINY’S SHOP care and the use of digital tools that
make care easier to access.
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Social and
Demographic factors
Health systems should consider
how social challenges – like access
Contact to healthy food, transportation or

Roxie Harbison safe housing – combine with medi-
cal risks, designing interventions
that improve heart health in each
roxieriverrock@email.com setting.
716-835-9455 x 102 To access the full report and find
more advice for a healthy heart, visit
Heart.org.