By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1976, Elton John and Kiki Dee released the duet Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. The song was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms of Ann Orson and Carte Blanche. The single was never on an original Elton John album, but appeared on the 1994 release Duets.

Elton John sang the same duet with Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show. He performed the duet again with Kiki Dee for the Live Aid concert, but has done performances with RuPaul, Minnie Mouse and the Spice Girls.

Elton John started his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour on September 8, 2018 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, but it had delays due to COVID-19 and John’s hip injury. His last U.S. concert was in Los Angeles on November 20, 2022. He will continue to tour in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe with his last concert scheduled for July 30, 2023. I was lucky enough to see his concert at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

His message of don’t go breaking my heart is timely for several reasons. February is American Heart Month with February 3rd being National Wear Red Day® to increase awareness of heart disease in women. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we should think about ways to take care of our hearts.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. February focuses on educating women about heart disease. The CDC Interactive Atlas for Heart Disease reports deaths in women over the age of 35 years. It provides data on heart death rates by state and county comparing the data to the national average.

Based on the CDC data, the national average is 248.8 heart disease deaths in women per every 100,000 women in the population. The state average for Ohio is worse than the national average reporting in at 293 female deaths from heart disease per every 100,000 women. Allen and Hardin counties have higher heart disease deaths in women than the state or national averages. Hancock county is lower than the state average, but still significantly higher than the national
average for women.

Hardin county reports a rate of 347.6 female deaths from heart disease for every 100,000 women in the population. This corresponds to approximately 53 female deaths each year in Hardin county due to heart disease. Allen county’s reported rate was 300.3 deaths translating to 153 women dying of heart disease each year. The number for Hancock county was 279.7 deaths each year, which results in about 104 women dying each year from heart disease.

The American Heart Association (AHA) website reminds women that more women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined and 44% of women do not recognize heart disease to be the biggest threat to their health. Of women 20 years and older, 45% are living with heart disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a risk of stroke. Over 4 million women are stroke survivors, but women account for 57.5% of the deaths from stroke.

The AHA started the National Wear Red Day® in 2004 to bring attention to heart disease in women. Unfortunately, the statistics have not changed much since that time. Improving heart health is essential.

There is a critical need to understand the gaps in knowledge related to heart disease in women. Gaps exist because women were not included in significant numbers in early heart research to understand the differences. There continues to be an inequity in heart care for women when it comes to treatment and outcomes as reported on February 2, 2023 by Dr. Wenger of Cardiology Today.

As research continues in the area of menopause and hormone therapy for women. New study data shows women who develop premature menopause (younger than 40 years of age) are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (abnormal beating of the heart) and heart failure (weakening of the heart muscle). Atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of a stroke and needs to be evaluated and treated by a primary care provider. If you sense abnormal heart beats or heart flutters, seek
care and treatment.

The use of combination birth control pills in women who are overweight may confer an increase risk of heart disease related to the formation of blood clots. Smoking, vaping, or using nicotine-containing products substantially increases the risk of blood clots when taken with birth control pills.

Women who use hormone therapy such as an estrogen or a combined estrogen with a progesterone have a risk of developing a higher than normal systolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure is the top number! Our goal blood pressure for most people is a systolic of 120 and a diastolic of 80 mmHg or commonly known as 120/80. Higher blood pressure readings increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Take care of your heart and don’t let it break! See your primary care provider for checkups! Check with your pharmacist about your medications and get a blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol check. Schedule an appointment with ONU HealthWise.

ONU HealthWise is offering COVID-19 vaccines as well as flu shots Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are available. Clinics are Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00 pm. Please call the pharmacy for more information.

ONU HealthWise Pharmacy
419-772-3784