WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 16, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Women still do not know that heart disease, and not breast cancer, is the disease they should fear most, according to Marianne J. Legato, MD, FACP, founder and director of the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University and a member of the LLuminari(R) network of health experts and physicians.
While breast cancer remains a critical life-threatening disease for women worldwide, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in women over age 60, Dr. Legato says.
"Heart disease develops differently in men and women," Dr. Legato said. "Women need better information to become more aware of these differences and the implications for heart health symptoms and warning signs. Better awareness could help women ask their doctor life-saving questions."
Dr. Legato added that 35 percent of women (versus 18 percent of men) who survive a first heart attack will have another heart attack within six years and 38 percent of women (versus 25 percent of men) will die within one year of a recognized heart attack.
Women's Heart Information at http://www.embracingwomenshealth.com
Women can access gender-specific heart health information and tips at the new web site - http://www.embracingwomenshealth.com - that is the home of "Embracing Women's Health," a national movement launched by LLuminari (Loo-min-R-ee) to improve women's awareness about the personal health impact of gender differences.
The web site provides women's heart health information from Dr. Legato, and from other members of the LLuminari network of health experts and physicians, in an easy-to-understand format. The information highlights gender-based issues women should be aware of as they manage their own heart health and discuss coronary health with their doctor. Dr. Legato says that proper treatment for heart attacks is a key to reducing the consequences of coronary disease in women.
"In many cases, women or their doctors, or both, have ignored or neglected important warning signs," said Dr. Legato. "What I find even more upsetting is my own personal observation that women are not as assertive as they should be on their own behalf."
Sharing and Support
One way women can become more confident about communicating heart health concerns to their doctor is to join the Embracing Women's Health movement. The goal of Embracing Women's Health is to create a grassroots, gender-specific health education movement of people sharing their knowledge and inspiration with each other.
"Women readily share health experiences with each other," said Elizabeth Browning, CEO, LLuminari. "We believe we are providing women an important new alternative to connect with each other, access the country's top health experts and also become their own wellness advocates."
The Embracing Women's Health web site is recruiting LLuminari Health Champions. Members of the movement can become Health Champions by sharing inspiring personal stories and earn the opportunity to begin their own Web Log ("BLOG") on the site. The site also provides message boards for Q&A sharing and an online newsletter.
LLuminari: A History of Commitment to Women's Health
The introduction of www.embracingwomenshealth.com is the latest milestone in the ongoing LLuminari mission to address gender-based health issues. LLuminari (Loo-min-R-ee), based in Wilmington, Delaware, is a health education company comprised of nationally known physicians and health experts committed to women's health, both in the workplace and at home. Named to evoke the idea of illumination, LLuminari physicians and health experts translate complex medical information into powerful and comprehensive formats and points of view that people understand and can act upon to improve personal and family health.
More information about LLuminari and Embracing Women's Health is available at www.LLuminari.com and www.embracingwomenshealth.com. Support for Embracing Women's Health provided by GlaxoSmithKline.
The LLuminari logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1422
Editor Note: Embracing Women's Health Press Center at web site - www.embracingwomenshealth.com - for news, facts, background and downloadable images.