"By increasing heart disease awareness and education for women, we could ultimately improve the long term heart-health of entire families and that of generations to come."  - Dr. JoAnne Foody 

Join JoAnne M. Foody, MD, FACC, FAHA, Director, Cardiovascular Wellness Program, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, and Kathy Berra, MSN, ANP, FAANP, FAAN, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, for this informative and thought-provoking presentation on women and cardiovascular health. 

Program topics include a discussion of the important role that women play in influencing the heart-health of their family and community, strategies to assess and stratify women into high risk, at risk, and optimal risk categories for cardiovascular disease, and evidence-based approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention for patients with hypertension, lipid abnormalities, and diabetes.  Both presentations will stress the importance of lifestyle approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. The new Women and Heart Disease Guidelines from the American Heart Association (released February 14, 2011) will also be discussed, with a focus on implications for patient care. 

Dr. Foody and Kathy Berra have both dedicated their professional careers to improving recognition that heart disease is a major women's health issue. They are committed to finding ways to increase women's awareness of their heart disease risk, teaching women how to recognize and act on symptoms, and to identify effective ways of implementing heart-healthy lifestyle programs for women and their families. 

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: 

At the conclusion of this program, attendees will be able to:

1. Explain key elements of the new American Heart Association Women and Heart Disease guidelines. 
2. Discuss how improving heart disease awareness and education among women could ultimately improve the long-term health of their families by influencing health behaviors.
3. Describe barriers and motivators for women in supporting heart-healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families.
4. Define ways that health professionals can support women in their pursuit of personal and family heart-health.

AUDIENCE: 

Nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians/nutritionists, and other healthcare providers interested in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. 

NOTE:

• Original Live Presentation February  23, 2011
• Reviewed by PCNA CE committee January 2014
• Reviewed January 2017