A Helping Hand: Support Networks for Women Living with Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, and it is essential that women take control of their health by assessing their risk of developing heart disease. But what about women who have already been diagnosed with heart disease? In addition to lifestyle changes and medical care, many women with heart disease benefit greatly from organized support networks in their communities.

Organizations like WomenHeart are taking the lead, offering support networks across the United States. The groups are facilitated by trained volunteer coordinators who are graduates of the Mayo Clinic Leadership Symposium. The following are examples of recent network activities:

• The New York City network held a meeting in a local knitting store.
• The Temecula Empire network in California hosted a speaker on family/caregiver coping issues.
• The St. Croix Valley network in Minnesota sponsored cooking classes at a local cooking store.
• The Queens network in New York coordinated a group makeover at a local hair salon.

A poll of WomenHeart network members found that, as a result of their participation, they felt less isolated, more in control of their heart disease, and more hopeful about the future. “We are finding that women who are involved in our networks are learning to live very productive lives with heart disease,� said program director Marie Warshauer.

To see if there is a WomenHeart support network in your area, visit www.womenheart.org/city_support_network. Or visit the following websites for other support groups and resources for people living with heart disease, as well as their caregivers and loved ones.

Mended Hearts
www.mendedhearts.org
Affiliated with the American Heart Association, this national network of support groups is for people recovering from heart bypass surgery and other procedures.

Heartmates
www.heartmates.com
This organization offers online support to spouses and family members of people with heart disease. The website offers advice, videos on recovery, and a resource book, Heartmates: A Guide for the Spouse and Family of the Heart Patient.

American Heart Association
www.americanheart.org
The American Heart Association funds medical research studies about heart disease and offers comprehensive information about various heart conditions and treatments. They sponsor the public awareness campaign for women about heart disease prevention, Go Red for Women.