Week 7: Heart Health and Cardiovascular Disease Responsible for half of all the deaths of women over age 50, heart disease is the number one killer of American women today.
As you go through menopause, your risk for cardiovascular disease becomes higher because a decrease in estrogen levels lead to increases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which leads to artery blockage. In the seventh session of Menopause University, you will gain an understanding of the basic anatomy of the heart and blood vessel system, the lipid panel, what signs your doctor looks for when testing you, and how you can interpret your own blood test results. The course will highlight your biggest risk factors for heart disease, hypertension, heart failure and coronary artery disease. In addition, you’ll learn about the different types of strokes and how heart disease plays a role in stroke onset. The importance of exercise is often misunderstood. In this course, you’ll discover the truths about exercise and heart health, and you’ll learn exercises you can do from the comfort of your own couch. You’ll gain an understanding of the differences between supplements and medications, which ones are the best and why. Plus, you’ll learn how diet and lifestyle habits play roles in the prevention or cause of cardiovascular disease. At the end of the course, you will have a thorough understanding of your body’s cardiovascular system, the strains that menopause and other factors have on it, what you need to do to protect yourself from cardiovascular disease and how to work with your doctor to ensure you’re getting the proper treatment. Monday, June 22, 2009 8:00 PM Eastern Can't attend at this particular time? We have good news! After this course, a downloadable MP3 file will be available for all students to copy to a CD or listen to on a digital audio player. You will receive a "Cardiovascular Disease" Packet including all relevant course materials prior to this session. 
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