Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation
             for Women Across the Nation [WISEWOMAN]

WISEWOMAN is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program that
provides prevention services for women to help them reduce their risk
of heart disease and stroke.

The WISEWOMAN program not only deals with tests and diagnostics, but focuses on Lifestyle Education; smoking, low physical activity, low consumption of fruits & vegetable,
high saturated fat intake and other components of living a healthy lifestyle.

Through the "Show Me Healthy Women" breast and cervical cancer control project, the WISEWOMAN program provides access to health screenings and
lifestyle education for low-income Missouri women.

WISEWOMAN Overview

Vision                    A world where any woman can access preventive health services
                                      and gain the wisdom to improve her health.

Mission          To provide low-income, under-insured or uninsured 40-60 year
                                       old women with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve
                                       diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle behaviors to prevent, 
                                       delay and control cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

 Why is WISEWOMAN Important

According to the American Heart Association*

●More than 50% of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease occurs in woman
               ● Heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases are
                  the NO.1 killer of American females.
               ● Heart disease, alone, is the NO.1 killer
               ●Stroke is the NO. 3 killer

●Nearly 500,000 American females die each year from cardiovascular diseases.
  That is higher than the next 6 causes of female deaths combined.

●Addressing risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking greatly reduces women's risk and death from
heart disease and stroke.

●In 2003, coronary heart disease claimed the lives of 233,866 women, compared to 41,566  
  lives from breast cancer and 67,894 lives from lung cancer.

●One in five women has some form of heart disease or vascular disease.

 How Does WISEWOMAN Work?

WISEWOMAN program is administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program that provides chronic disease risk factor screening,
lifestyle intervention, and referral services for women, ages 40 and 64 years,
to help them reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Through the "Show Me Healthy Women" breast and cervical cancer control project, the WISEWOMAN program provides access to health screenings and
lifestyle education for low-income Missouri women.

The WISEWOMAN program not only deals with tests and diagnostics, but focuses on Lifestyle Education; smoking, low physical activity, low consumption of
fruits & vegetable, high saturated fat intake and other
components of living a healthy lifestyle.

   WISEWOMAN Components

Show Me Healthy Women Screenings

Cardiovascular screenings measure blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, waist circumference, and body mass index.  Screening measures follow established national guidelines and standards of care.

Show Me Healthy Women Lifestyle Education

Lifestyle education focuses on changing lifestyle behaviors that increase the risk for developing heart disease.  Targeted habits include:

Low physical activity                                                        High saturated fat intake

Low consumption of fruits and vegetables                      Smoking

Lifestyle education is tailored for each individual using either individual or group sessions.
The education manual, Choices for Healthy Living, was developed specifically for
women and includes adaptations for the Midwest culture.

 WISEWOMAN Cardiovascular