As FDA Approves Heart Disease Drug for African Americans, Guide Helps Inform Black Women about Heart Disease Prevention and Treatment
On June 23, the FDA approved a heart disease drug called BiDil; with the recent news over this new drug, heart disease prevention for women (especially African Americans) is an issue that many may realize has been overlooked. In addition to the introduction of this drug, a book called "The African American's Guide to a Healthy Heart" arms women with valuable information.
(PRWEB via PR Web Direct) June 30,
2005 –- On June 23, the FDA approved a heart disease drug called BiDil; with the
recent news over this new drug, heart disease
prevention and treatment for women (especially African Americans) is an
issue that many may realize has been overlooked. In addition to the introduction
of this drug, a book called "The African American's Guide to a Healthy Heart"
arms women with valuable information.
A poll taken by the American Heart
Association asked women what they considered to be their major health threat.
Sixty-one percent identified cancer as their main health concern, while only
seven percent identified heart disease. The reality is that women are twice as
likely to die from heart disease as from cancer. This news is of particular
importance to African-American women, who are at higher risk for death and
disability from heart disease and stroke than any other ethnic group. They also
get these diseases at younger ages and are sixty-nine percent more likely to die
from them.
In "The
African American Woman's Guide to a Healthy Heart," (Hilton Publishing,
edited by Anne L. Taylor, M.D., Director of the Association of Black
Cardiologists Women's Center), arms African-American women with the information
they need to take action to decrease their risk of developing heart disease and
stroke. This easy-to-read, important guide will teach readers everything they
need to know about how their heart works, what makes it work well and what
happens when it doesn't work as well as it should. Heart attack and stroke risk,
heart disease prevention and management, and how to negotiate the healthcare
system are also covered.
"The African American Woman's Guide to a
Healthy Heart" will also teach readers about other topics, such as:
* How
heart and blood vessels work
* The correlation between heart disease and
stroke
* The roles that high-blood pressure, obesity, tobacco and diabetes
play in the development of these diseases
* How to recover and to improve
your health if you've already had heart disease or stroke; and how to prevent
subsequent occurrences
* How to help your family—especially physically
inactive children-- live a heart-healthy life
Finally, a comprehensive
list of resources aimed at helping readers find additional information to take
charge of their health is also included. With the encouragement and knowledge
gained from this definitive guide, African American women will be ready to make
the important lifestyle changes they need to live a heart-healthy
life.
Anne L. Taylor, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine and the Associate
Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. She
is also the Director of the Association of Black Cardiologists' Women's Center.
She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Association of Black
Cardiologists is dedicated to reducing cardiovascular disease in the African
American community. The association is centered in Atlanta, Georgia.
For
more information about heart disease
prevention and treatment, read "The African American Woman's Guide to a
Healthy Heart"
(Edited by Anne L. Taylor, M.D. for the Association of Black
Cardiologists Women Center, Hilton Publishing, ISBN:
0-9716067-6-5).
Contact:
Tara Brown
704-841-0709
e-mail
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb256856.htm