Women's health care needs can be very different from men's – especially when it comes to heart disease.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. That's why it's important for you to learn about your heart health now.

The role of gender differences in health
When heart disease studies began many years ago, men were the standard by which disease-related terms were defined. It was widely assumed that men and women reacted to disease in the same ways.

Only recently have researchers begun to take into account the roles that gender differences play in determining health care practices. To better focus on the needs of women and their health, they must be included in studies about the effects of disease – particularly heart disease.

How do women view their risks?
We now know that even though women weren't part of various health care studies for years, their specific health needs are very important – especially when considering the differences in heart disease between men and women.

But more often than not, women do not see themselves as being at risk for heart disease. They know the risk factors – smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, no regular exercise program, family history of heart disease, diabetes and obesity – but they still don't assign these risk factors to themselves.Most women still believe the misconception that the greatest threat to their health is cancer.

How can women become better informed?
Women often make the health care decisions for their families. But those same women sometimes neglect their own health.

At INTEGRIS Heart Hospital, we understand the importance of addressing women's heart health needs. And we know that the best way to treat heart disease is to try to stop it before it starts.

That's why we've introduced Heart Essentials at INTEGRIS Heart Hospital.

Heart Essentials will help put you on the right track to learning more about how you can prevent heart disease – not just for your family – but for you.

We want you to understand your risks, and Heart Essentials will help get you started.

A Heart Essentials membership includes:

• Cardiac risk profile – Simply fill out the cardiac risk profile to tell us more about your family history, diet and exercise habits.You'll receive a comprehensive report based on your profile with information on how you can improve your health.
• Body fat and weight assessment
• Peripheral vascular screening – The peripheral vascular screening will determine whether there is a blockage in the arteries of your legs.
• Blood pressure evaluation
• Cholesterol evaluation
• Diabetes screening
• Pocket EKG card – Your Pocket EKG card slips right into your wallet. It includes a baseline EKG graph of your heart's electrical activity. An EKG helps determine whether the heart is functioning properly. This measurement could help save your life in an emergency.

Heart Essentials members also can take advantage of these discounted services:

• Nutrition consultation
• Exercise physiologist consultation
• Osteoporosis screening.

For More Information
If you would like more information about Heart Essentials, please call the INTEGRIS Heart Hospital at (405) 949-3499.

Special Offer for Heart Essentials Members
The INTEGRIS HeartScan is a noninvasive, fast and easy way to measure coronary plaque (calcium deposits) in your heart. The INTEGRIS HeartScan is the gold standard in preventive heart scan technology.

The HeartScan is a nonsurgical, outpatient procedure that measures your risk for heart disease. There are no injections, no dyes…you don't even have to change clothes.

The HeartScan technician will review the results of the scan with you and give you a preliminary report. Cardiologists review the scoring and finalize the interpretation for a complete report. When a complete report is prepared, you will receive helpful advice on what therapy is most appropriate for you.

The INTEGRIS HeartScan is available to Heart Essentials members at a special discounted price.

To make your HeartScan appointment, call (405) 552-0180.

INTEGRIS Health 3300 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 | HealthLine: (888) 951-2277