Release Date: July 2004

MATTERS OF THE HEART

One in nine women aged 45 to 64 has heart disease, and this number grows to one in five after age 65. But you can improve your health and lower your risk of heart disease by taking steps now.

Send for Matters of the Heart, a free package of information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Citizen Information Center, and get the facts on heart disease and strokes

Having high blood pressure increases your chances for developing heart disease and having a stroke. To lower your risk, visit your doctor regularly for blood pressure and cholesterol checks. If you find out your blood pressure is too high, reduce the amount of salt and fat in your diet and exercise everyday. Exercise makes the heart stronger and improves your blood flow. And if you smoke, stop or try to cut down. Smoking can thicken your blood and cause dangerous blood clots.

Taking aspirin daily may also lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Ask your doctor if taking a daily dose of aspirin is right for you.

Take the first steps to better health. Order your free Matters of the Heart package. There are three easy ways to get your free publications:

• Send your name and address to Matters of the Heart , Pue blo, Colorado 81009.
• Call toll-free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO . That's 1 (888) 878-3256 , weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for the Matters of the Heart package.
• Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov to order online and to print out these and hundreds of other federal publications for free.

Get even more information and take advantage of federal online resources at www.FirstGov.gov —your official front door to federal and state government websites.

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• Please check with Shantae Goodloe if you plan to use this release after October 15, 2004.
• If you would like to receive these releases by e-mail send a request to shantae.goodloe@gsa.gov or call (202) 501-1794.

GSA # 2629

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