Heart Healthy Living for Women

If you are a women living with heart disease you know that managing your heart disease, like other chronic conditions, can quickly become overwhelming. We’ve created the resources below to support you, and all women, as you aim to reach your health goals.   Use the tip sheets below to learn more about the issues that impact women with heart disease and how you can protect your heart. Watch and learn as health experts from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis Heart Institute, and Abbott Northwestern Hospital cover everything from healthy eating to anxiety and depression as part of our Women’s Heart Health video library.
 
 Atrial Fibrillation
 
 
Atrial Fibrillation affects nearly 3 million people in the United States. Discover how you can decrease your chances of developing atrial fibrillation – or improve your management of it.
Watch and Learn>>   Dr. Bill Katsiyiannis provides an overview of atrial fibrillation, reviews how women experience it differently than men and what the treatment options are.
 
 Anxiety & Depression

 
Your mind has a strong effect on your heart. Find out how you can maintain a healthy state of mind to manage and prevent heart disease.
Watch and Learn>>   University of Minnesota Professors Ruth Lindquist and Elaine Darst discuss how depression and anxiety commonly affect the body, mind, and hearts of women living with heart disease and when to seek help.
 
Appointments, Tests & Procedures
 
Seeing your health care providers regularly, being prepared for your appointments and being an active participant in your health care will help your health care team provide you with the best care possible.
Watch and Learn>>   Dr. Betty Grey talks about the process of diagnosing heart disease and reviews the tests that are used as part of the treatment plans for women with heart disease.
 
 Diabetes

 
A woman with diabetes is more likely to have a heart attack than a woman without diabetes. Find out how to manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of heart attack and heart disease progression.
Watch and Learn>>   Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Gretchen Benson explains the risks that women with diabetes and heart disease face. Learn how the same healthy behaviors necessary to manage diabetes can also prevent heart disease related complications and improve your overall health.
 
 Heart Attack
Signs & Symptoms
 
Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms other than chest pain. And more women than men die from heart attacks. Learn the symptoms of a heart attack so you can get treatment at the first sign of distress.
Watch and Learn>>   Dr. Shalini Bobra shares the warning signs of a heart attack, how women may experience them differently than men and what you should do if you think you are having a heart attack.
 
 Heart Healthy Eating

 
 Healthy eating may be one of the most important parts of managing and preventing heart disease, find out how to start and how delicious it can be.
Watch and Learn>>   Registered DietitianSusan White takes us on a tour of the grocery store to show us how to shop for heart healthy foods.
 
 
 Heart Medications
Medications must be taken correctly for them to work. Find out how to stay safe and get the most out of your medication while keeping the cost as low as possible.
Watch and Learn>>   Pharmacist Laura Borstad Richardson reviews the importance of taking your medications as prescribed and shares tips on how to do so consistently, safely, and at the lowest cost possible.
 
 Physical Activity

 
Human beings are built to move! Find out how you can lower your risk of heart attack and manage heart disease by moving more.
Watch and Learn>>   Exercise Physiologist Sue Masemer reviews the basics of exercising safely when you have heart disease and how you can get started with your own exercise program.
 
 Stress Management
Research suggests that managing stress can reduce the risk of a heart attack by up to 75%! Learn how to manage your stress so you can manage your heart disease.
Watch and Learn>>   Mind Body Coach Molly Ellefson provides insights on how stress effects our body and mind and its relationship to heart disease. Learn tips on how you can manage stress and watch a demonstration on how to practice the Relaxation Response.
Watch and Learn>>   Mind Body Coach Molly Ellefson, demonstrates Ho' oponopono, an Ancient Hawaiian Relaxation Technique.
 
 
 Support & Communication
Seeking support is especially important when managing heart disease. Learn about the importance of seeking support and asking for help and how it can help you live a full healthy life.
Watch and Learn>>   Heart disease survivor, Joy shares her inspiring story about how seeking support and communicating honestly with her family, friends and providers have made her stronger.
 
 Weight Management
If you have heart disease and need to lose weight, losing as little as 10% of your weight can significantly decrease your risk for further heart disease. Learn simple and effective strategies for losing weight in a healthy way.
Watch and Learn>>   Heart disease survivor, Kathy shares her story – including her struggle to maintain a healthy weight, strategies that helped her lose weight and those that have helped her maintain her weight loss.
 
 Clinical Research
 
 
Clinical cardiology research helps researchers and clinicians discvoer the best therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.  
Watch and Learn>>   Research Nurse Clinician Rachel Olson discusses the benefits, costs, and risks of participating in a clinical research trial.  Learn more about who can participate, how participants are protected and how you can learn more information about clinical research trials.