HEART for Women Act needs support to pass in Congress.

Byline: Harriette L. Chandler; Nancy E. Stevens

As the new year begins, we can stop and take stock of what's important to us - our family, friends and health. There are many things multi-tasking women may take for granted in the 21st century, but our heart health should not be among them.

Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of American women, killing more females than the next five causes of death combined.

Also, while heart disease and stroke kill one in every four men, one in every 2.5 women lose their lives to heart disease and stroke. There's a serious problem here, and it stems from disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women. We believe that recently filed federal legislation - aimed at making women and health-care providers aware of the issue - is the answer.

The HEART (Heart disease Education, Analysis and Research and Treatment) for Women Act is part of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement, a nationwide campaign to encourage woman to know their numbers and take charge of their health. The HEART Act takes a multi-pronged approach to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke:

The HEART for Women Act will authorize outreach and training of health-care providers.

It will require gender- and race-specific reporting and analysis of data, including gender-specific information about new and investigational medicines and medical devices.

Finally, this federal legislation will improve heart disease and stroke screening for low-income, uninsured women. Currently, these women have access to such screening in only 14 states (through the Centers for Disease Control's WISEWOMAN program). Uninsured women in all 50 states need and deserve this cost-effective screening.

It's time to face facts. Heart disease is not just a man's disease.

Since 1979, the death rate for heart disease in men has declined by 17 percent. The death rate for women has slightly increased over this same time period. It's vital that women and their physicians understand the risk factors and know the warning signs. However, more than 90 percent of primary care physicians don't know that heart disease kills more women each year than men.

Women are also less likely than men to receive certain diagnostic testing and treatments, such as angioplasties and stents, for cardiovascular diseases.

For one-third of all new drugs approved by the FDA in recent years, doctors and researchers don't have any information about whether they are safe and effective in women.

Minority women are particularly at risk for heart disease and stroke. For example, 45 percent of African- American women have some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to 32 percent of white women.

Women and men need to take this message to heart and take action.

You can help current and future victims of heart attack and stroke - perhaps your mother, wife, sister, daughter, or friend - by writing or calling your U.S. congressman and senators.

Ask them to do their part to cure heart disease and stroke by co-sponsoring the HEART for Women Act.

State Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, represents the 1st Worcester District. Nancy E. Stevens is the mayor of Marlboro.You can join the American Heart Association's You're the Cure Network at www.americanheart.org/yourethecure.