Heart Smarter for Women

Your Six-Week Program for Healthier Living Heart disease is the number-one killer of women. Yet far too few women recognize its risks, and there are tremendous disparities in how women are diagnosed and treated. This book is your invitation to become heart smarter—to combat statistics with knowledge and understanding. Leading cardiologists Drs. Jennifer Mieres and Stacey Rosen have revised their bestselling Heart Smart for Women for a new audience of readers, partnering with Lori Russo and Marissa Licata to add brand-new content designed to equip you with the insights and solutions to live better and feel better—to take charge of your health. The book is centered around a six-week plan that has equipped countless women to become more knowledgeable about their hearts and take simple steps to improve the quality of their lives. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease. But you can prevent or stop the spread of heart disease with targeted, smart actions designed to modify your risks and equip you to make healthier life choices. It's time to take control of your health. It's time to become heart smarter.

JENNIFER H. MIERES, MD, is a professor of cardiology and a leading expert in patient-centered healthcare advocacy. As senior vice president of Northwell Health's Center for Equity of Care, Dr. Mieres provides strategic guidance for Northwell's diversity and health equity initiatives and serves as the health system's first chief diversity and inclusion officer. STACEY E. ROSEN, MD, FACC, is a practicing cardiologist and Senior Vice President for Northwell's Katz Institute for Women's Health, which focuses on the elimination of healthcare disparities through comprehensive clinical programs, gender-based research, community partnerships, and education. Dr. Rosen is the Partners Council Professor of Women's Health and Professor of Cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Rosen is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. LORI M. RUSSO, JD, is a consultant with a focus on women's health. Prior to starting her own consulting business in 2012, Ms. Russo was in-house counsel and Americas Head of Employee Recognition and Alumni Relations for Credit Suisse, a multinational financial services company. Since 2012, Ms. Russo has concentrated on projects related to healthcare, with a specific focus on women's health and gender disparities. Recent projects include work on the two-part documentary series Rx: The Quiet Revolution and Rx: Doctors of Tomorrow, contributing author of Heart Smart for Women: Six S.T.E.P.S. in Six Weeks to Heart-Healthy Living, as well as coproducing the women's health documentary Ms. Diagnosed, which premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 7, 2020. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Boston University School of Law. Lori resides in New York City with her husband, Dr. Barry Shpizner. They are the parents of two adult children, Mark and Jeremy. MARISSA LICATA is a registered dietitian at KIWH, where she focuses on the nutritional care of women across their life span, paying special attention to health and wellness, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal health, and weight management. Driven by the pursuit of helping others fulfill a healthy lifestyle and achieve nutritional wellness, Marissa has spent twenty-two years as a registered dietitian. Prior to joining Northwell Health, Marissa had a robust career in the field of clinical nutrition, including the role of ambulatory nutrition manager at New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center. She also served as Clinical Nutrition Manager of the University of California, Davis Health System, where she oversaw all aspects of clinical nutrition services among other various leading healthcare institutions. Marissa received her bachelor of science degree in food and nutrition from Long Island University, C.W. Post. She also earned her master of science degree in organizational leadership from New England College and completed her dietetic internship at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE READER INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW PART ONE: WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE—AN OVERVIEW Understanding Heart Disease in Women The Healthy Heart versus the Diseased Heart Assessing Your Risk for Heart Disease Know Your Score: Your Personal Risk Factor Assessment Pay Attention to the Clues and Cues: Your Body Tells a Story PART TWO: SIX S.T.E.P.S. IN SIX WEEKS TO A HEALTHIER HEART S: Select and Stock Your Kitchen with Healthy Food Choices T: Take Control of Your Activity and Choose to Move Every Day E: Eat for a Healthier Heart P: Partner with Your Doctor, Family, and Friends S: Sleep More, Stress Less, and Savor Life Permanent S.T.E.P.S. to a Healthier Heart PART THREE: GET SMARTER—ELEVATE YOUR HEART IQ NOURISH A Week's Worth of Delicious, Easy Menus for Your Heart Health Portion Size Guidelines Strength and Flexibility Exercises—No Gym Required Rx for Heart Attack Survivors Common Heart Medications, Treatments, and Tests Q&A ABOUT HEART DISEASE GLOSSARY ABOUT THE AUTHORS INDEX