Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Red Dress, Heart Month and Women's Health


"Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear -- It’s the Number 1 Killer of Women."

The primary goal of The Heart Truth campaign is to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women.

To support this goal, The Heart Truth campaign launched the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in February 2003.

A longtime friend of mine, about age 67, was found dead on the floor in her home just under two weeks ago. She had a good doctor but still her damaged heart probably just quit.

Another very dear friend of mine, and younger than I am, has been dealing with heart failure for a couple of years. Her doctor is described as rude and demeaning of her choice of more natural care which the doctor disdains. Still my friend seems to be doing fairly well.

Because I've spent over 30 years in the health care industry in various levels of nursing, administration and education I've known for quite some time that male focused mainstream medicine does not usually do studies on health issues that affect women. The treatments also are based on how men are affected as are the symptoms listed as warnings for heart attack. Only very recently has this started to change.

But, having the enquiring mind that I do, and the fact that I am an inveterate proponent of public health and natural care, I am just wondering this: Has anyone ever looked at the effect of Annual Screening Mammogram and the increase in the rate of heart disease in women?

It is a fact that radiation from x-ray exposure is cumulative and has a deleterious effect on thyroid, heart and breast health. Breast cancer is a side effect of mammogram. Heart disease and thyroid imbalance are side effects of radiation treatment for breast cancer.

What might your thoughts be?

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