Events | The Alpha Phi Foundation | Women and Heart Disease

      

Valentine's Day Cards!

The Sisters teamed up with the Brothers of Sigma Nu to make Valentine’s Day cards for children at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.  We had a great turnout for the event, tons of fun, and made some fabulous cards to present to the kids.  Thanks to Katie Sullivan for planning the evening!

Hiram House 2008!

Once again our chapter will be teaming up with the rest of the campus greeks to volunteer at Hiram House Pumpkin Festival on October 12, 2008. Hiram house is a Halloween Festival where we face paint for kids, help with vending, greet and direct people, among other things. It is always a ton of fun, and quite successful. Last year, the Director of Hiram House was so pleased with our efforts that she sent a letter to the University President, praising Case Greeks for their help and support.

Bid For Your Heart 2008 was a success!

Much thanks goes out to everyone who attended, all of the organizations who sponsered a person, and to all of the restaurants and businesses that donated gifts. Stay tuned for information about Bid For Your Heart 2009!

Bid for your heart

Bid 4 Your Heart is Alpha Phi's annual date auction. With the help of Greeks all over campus and businesses around Cleveland we raised nearly $3,000 this past year. All the money we raised goes to The Alpha Phi Foundation, an organization that strives to benefit cardiac care for women and research projects.

The Alpha Phi Foundation

T he Alpha Phi Foundation was established in 1956 and is the oldest Greek foundation founded by women.

The Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of Alpha Phi Fraternity. The Alpha Phi Foundation mission is to be a financially successful organization that operates with the highest ethical values. In the spirit of mutual respect and life-long membership in Alpha Phi, the Foundation funds programs that:

Assist members in need

Women and Heart Disease

Alpha Phi's at AHA's Heartwalk 2008!.

W hile many women believe that heart disease affects only men, women need to pay attention to their heart health just as closely as men do.

Disarming a Killer. Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. It claims the lives of more women each year than all forms of cancer combined. Whether you're a man or a woman, once you know what you're up against, you can make healthy choices to help keep you and your heart going strong.

What is Heart Disease? Coronary artery disease (CAD), a deadly type of heart disease, occurs when the coronary arteries?carrying blood to the heart?become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits. This reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. Severely narrowed arteries may become completely blocked. The result can be angina (an episode of chest tightness, discomfort, or pain) or heart attack (a more persistent blockage that can be serious or even fatal).

The fatty deposits on the artery walls, called plaque, can be caused by many different factors?many of them controllable, others not. For women, these include smoking, inactivity, hypertension, abnormal levels of blood fats, hormonal factors, Diabetes Mellitus, obesity, genetic factors, and age.

Are Men and Women Affected the Same Way? Not exactly. As a group, young women receive some protection from hormones and are thus less likely to develop CAD, unless they have other risk factors (e.g. diabetes, obesity, elevated cholesterol, and smoking). Otherwise, women who haven't gone through menopause are less likely than men of the same age to have a heart attack or show other effects of CAD. However, once a woman reaches menopause, her risk for developing CAD increases dramatically. By the time she is in her late 70s, her risk will be equal to that of a man her age.

How Can I Help My Heart? Fortunately, many of the risk factors for CAD can be controlled. And the lifestyle choices that are good for your heart are also good for your overall health and well-being. Here are some ways to make sure you've giving your heart the help it deserves.

Choose healthy foods. A low fat diet rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates is best for your heart.

Get regular exercise. Regular aerobic exercise can help you manage your weight and improve the health of your heart. It's also a great stress-reducer! If you're older than 35 or have serious health problems, check with your doctor before you start an exercise program. Then choose a variety of activities you enjoy and do them often. Walking, running, swimming, biking, and rowing are all good choices. Varying the kind of exercise you do may help you stick to it. Avoid exercising in extremely hot or in extremely cold weather. If you haven't exercised for a while, try a walking program?it's easy, it's cheap, and it's safe. While many fitness experts recommend walking (or other exercise) for at least 20 to 30 minutes three to five times a week, keep in mind that some activity is better than none. And you can still exercise even if you have arthritis?the Arthritis Foundation has exercise programs designed for people with sore joints.

Keep your blood pressure down. If you have hypertension, it's very important to keep it under control. Regular exercise is one way to help. Your doctor may also prescribe an antihypertensive medication for you. In addition, low-salt diets are generally helpful. If any kind of medication is prescribed for you, take it exactly as instructed. Your doctor has determined the type and amount of medication you need. Follow the instructions carefully and raise any questions you may have with your doctor. For More Information

If you don't have a physician that you can consult about your heart health needs, call the physician referral or health information service at your local hospital. The American Heart Association has a site dedicated to women and heart disease called Take Wellness to Heart. There are further articles relating to women and heart disease at America's Doctor.com; when you get to the site search for "women and heart disease."