Heart Disease in Women

"Ladies, let’s make our lives better. If you feel anything unusual, go to the doctor. Don’t wait, please. Heart illnesses are not easy but they are manageable."

- Testimonial from a Philoptochos member, Metropolis of Chicago

The mission of the Women’s Health Initiative is to focus on the critical health issues facing women today. Heart disease was selected as the first initiative because it is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Educational information has been gathered from premier health organizations, including the CDC, American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic and other educational institutions. 

Click here to download a copy of the Heart Disease in Women Resource Guide.

The guide details topics such as causes, health and lifestyle tips for prevention, treatments, and more. Of special note are the personal testimonials of six Philoptochos members who share their stories of living with heart disease. These are found in the last pages of the guide. 

February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association runs a specific initiative called Go Red For Women to help raise awareness for the No. 1 cause of death for women: cardiovascular disease. On the first Friday of February is National Wear Red Day. The Sunday following we encourage our members to wear red for our "Go Red Sunday!"

*Any medical or health care or other education information on this page is intended to provide information and is not intended to provide medical consultation regarding the diagnosis, management or treatment of any patient or illness, nor is it intended as a substitute for the professional judgment of a physician or other health care provider.