Alpha Phi International Foundation Website

Cardiac Care Award

Since 1946, Alpha Phi has focused on cardiac care as a philanthropic priority. As a women’s organization, Alpha Phi Foundation places special emphasis on women’s cardiac health. Through contributions from chapters, individual members, and friends, the Alpha Phi foundation supports cardiac care programs and other charitable projects and a variety of scholarships, financial aide, and leadership programs for women. Each spring the Foundation accepts nominations for the Alpha Phi Foundation Cardiac Care Award. Collegiate chapters, alumnae chapters or individual members can make nominations for Foundation monetary grants for organizations within their own communities. Non-profit organizations can also self-nominate. As a result of the Foundation’s efforts, health care professionals and women everywhere are learning more about the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease.

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Sisters in Need: The Forget-Me-Not Fund and
Emergency Undergraduate Aid

Alpha Phis are sisters for life – we support one another and help each other in times of need. The Alpha Phi Foundation helps, too, through two funds that benefit sisters when they need it most.

The Forget-Me-Not Fund provides assistance to Alpha Phi alumnae who are facing serious health problems, natural disasters or other crises. The Emergency Aid Fund offers aid to any undergraduate member facing an interruption of her education because of an unforeseen financial crisis.

When our sisters encounter times of trouble, we are there to help.

The Emergency Aid Fund offers aid to any undergraduate member facing an interruption of her education because of an unforeseen financial crisis. When our sisters encounter times of trouble, we are there to help.

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While 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 Affected the Same Way as Women?
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 (for example: 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.

What causes this age-related shift in women's CAD risk? Estrogen production during a woman's childbearing years is thought to have a protective effect on her cardiovascular system. When estrogen production drops at menopause, this protection is lost. For this reason, hormone replacement therapy is often recommended for women during and after menopause.

It's also important to note that CAD may have different symptoms in women than in men. For women, fatigue and chest discomfort-rather than chest pain-may be signs of CAD. Being aware of the symptoms can help assure that you get prompt treatment in the event of an emergency.

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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.

	Don't smoke. Smoking is a leading cause of CAD. By giving up cigarettes, smokers can reduce their risk of CAD by as much as 50% within the first year! And the risk will continue to decline.
	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."

Alpha Phi is grateful to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare ( www.enh.org ) for providing this information on women and heart disease. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare ranks among the Top 100 Hospitals nationwide and conducts innovative treatments for the management of coronary artery disease.

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How sisters of CNU's Theta Phi Chapter raise money for the Alpha Phi Foundation:

	Castle of Cans
	Angel Tree
	King of Hearts
	Teeter-Totter-A-Thon

 

 

 

 

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