Cardiovascular disease is still the top killer of Iowans, according to a new report from the American Heart Association. Jennifer Crome, spokeswoman for the organization’s Iowa chapter, says more people died of heart disease than the other top four causes of death combined.Heart disease killed over 11-thousand Iowans last year, accounting for 41-percent of the state’s deaths. Nationwide, more than 900-thousand people died from heart disease. Crome says one in five women who died last year died of heart disease — a number that’s rising. She says the Heart Association is launching two programs that specifically target Iowa women. Nationwide, heart disease killed 931-thousand Americans while cancer killed 553-thousand, accidents killed 101-thousand, Alzheimer’s disease claimed nearly 54-thousand lives and H-I-V killed over 14-thousand. Cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (heart attack and angina), congestive heart failure, stroke, and congenital heart defects. Simple Solutions helps women take simple steps toward healthier lives, things like exercising and quitting smoking. The other program, Choose to Move, encourages women to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. For more information, Iowans can call 888-My-Heart or log on to “americanheart.org”.
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