Many women in Ohio's urban areas don't take good health to heart. That's
according to a new national survey by the American Heart Association on women
and heart disease.
Toledo ranks as the least heart-friendly of mid-sized metro areas for women.
Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus are listed among the 10 least heart-healthy
large metro areas for women.
ONN's Brian McIntyre talked with Cleveland Clinic Women's Health expert Dr.
Holly Thacker.
She explained the issue is somewhat regional.
"States where women have lower cardiovascular risk and are thinner, tend to be
in states where there's a lot of outdoor activity and better weather," said Dr.
Thacker.
Dr. Thacker says part of the reason heart disease is such a problem for women is
sociological.
While men are more likely to make sure they have time for the physical
activities, women tend to put other things and other people before themselves.
"Then they are exhausted at the end of the day and they've run out of time,"
said Dr. Thacker.
Dr. Thacker said all women need to adopt a routine and practice it, keeping up
with daily exercise, healthy eating and adequate sleep.
"They have to reprioritize and structure things so that they're taking care of
themselves first so they then can stay in good enough health to stay around to
take care of everybody else," said Dr. Thacker.
For a complete look at the study and city rankings and tips to help prevent
heart disease, check out the American Heart Association's website.
Source : 2008 by ONN
