Updated NHLBI Handbook Can Help Educate Women on Heart Health

Women are more likely than men to have a stroke, and, as women grow older, their risks for both heart disease and stroke rise, according to the American Heart Association. That's why the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has issued an updated version of its heart guide for women. It's a resource you may want to recommend to some of your female patients.

The 20th anniversary edition of The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women (PDF file: 127 pages / 2.6 MB. More about PDFs.) spans 122 pages and contains new information on women's heart health and practical suggestions for reducing personal risk for cardiovascular disease, such as quitting smoking, lowering high blood pressure, managing cholesterol and addressing obesity. It also reviews other factors that influence heart health.

The closing sections of the guide detail the warning signs of and how to respond to a heart attack; prevention and early detection measures, such as screening tests, medications and special procedures; and how to develop an action plan for a healthy heart.

In honor of Mother's Day, The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women is on sale for $3.75 for a single copy or $85 for 25 copies until May 31. The handbook also may be downloaded from the NHLBI Web site for free.