Few Women Realize Heart Disease Top Killer

Aug. 22 -- A lot of women don't know it, but heart disease their greatest enemy. It is the No. 1 cause of death for women, and more women died of heart disease than men in the last year.

Former Entertainment Tonight host Julie Moran wants women to understand that they are at great risk of developing heart disease. Moran became all too aware of its dangers after losing her grandmother and one of her best friends to the disease.

Moran is the new spokesperson for the American Heart Association and their "Simple Solutions" program, which gives women the basics on how to keep their hearts healthy.

Initially, it shocked her that heart attack and stroke kill more American women than any other illness. She had thought that breast or ovarian cancer were the top killers for women.

"Women know about getting mammograms and Pap smears, but aren't really aware of getting their hearts tested," Moran said. In a 2000 survey, only 8 percent of women identified heart disease and stroke as their No. 1 health threat.

ABCNEWS' Dr. Nancy Snyderman said doctors don't do a good job when it comes to screening women for heart disease. "It's the No. 1 killer in the United States, but we have relegated it to being a man's disease because in the past we've seen it as something that gets men in their 40s and women get it later," she said.

Half a million women died last year of heart attacks, and more women than men die of heart attacks every year, according to the American Heart Association.

Moran's friend, Mary Frann, a television and movie actress most recognized for her role as Bob Newhart's wife on the series Newhart, died of heart disease in her early 50s. Frann had a heart murmur, but never ever thought she would die of a heart attack, Moran said. Moran's grandmother died of heart disease 16 years ago.

Diet and Exercise Not Priorities

One of the reasons for the figures is that for women, diet and exercise are no longer the top priorities, Moran said. Recent polls suggest that women are interested in spending more time with their families, finding balance in their lives and making each day count.