The American Medical Women's Association and the Tea Council of the USA Join Forces to Promote Women's Heart Health

NEW YORK, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the start of National Women's Heart Health Month in February, the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) and the Tea Council of the USA are teaming up to raise awareness of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its affect on women by sponsoring "The 2006 Tea Party for Women's Heart Health" that will take place on Thursday, January 26th at George Washington University in Washington, DC. The event will call attention to the prevalence of CHD among women, the risks, symptoms and procedures for diagnosing it and steps women can take to lower their risk. AMWA and the Tea Council of the USA hope that their efforts will lead women across America in a call to action to improve their health and reduce the impact of heart disease in 2006.

"Many women don't realize that heart disease, not cancer, is their number one killer," says cardiologist Patricia Davidson, MD, FACP, former chair of the Capitol City Chapter American Heart Association's Women and Heart Disease Task Force. "The good news is that there are important dietary changes that women can make, like drinking tea, which is chock full of flavonoids, cutting down on saturated fats, incorporating healthy monounsaturated fats and eating more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables that may help to decrease their chances for falling victim to heart disease. Of course, a healthy lifestyle is key -- not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight go a long way in reducing a woman's heart disease risk. Additionally, walking 30 minutes each day can reduce incidences of heart attack, stroke and cancer by 50 percent, and ensuring that you and your doctor are working together to reduce your risk factors for heart disease and stroke can make all the difference."

Health professionals and media are invited to attend the 2006 Tea Party for Women's Heart Health where guest speakers will include Dr. Davidson, Edith Howard Hogan, RD, LD, consulting dietitian in Washington, DC and former American Dietetic Association National Spokesperson, Dr. Omega Logan Silva, MD, MACP, former AMWA president, and Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the USA.

"We are pleased to be co-sponsoring this event with the AMWA," says Joe Simrany. "Our objective is to empower women with knowledge about heart disease risk and effective ways to reduce heart disease risk by practicing a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise."

With a large and growing body of research showing evidence of tea's disease-fighting potential, particularly in the area of cardiovascular health, the association between tea and women's heart health is a good one. A number of studies suggest that people who drink tea regularly have lower instances of heart disease and fatal heart attacks. In one study, participants who drank more than two servings of tea per day had a 50 percent lower prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) than non tea-drinkers. In another study, conducted by Harvard University, those who consumed tea during the year after a heart attack were up to 44 percent more likely to survive over the three to four years following the event. Those who consumed fewer than 14 cups of tea per week experienced a 28 percent reduced death rate and those who consumed more than 14 cups of tea per week were found to have a 44 percent reduced death rate, as compared to non-tea drinkers(i).

Tea contains flavonoids, naturally occurring compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals, which scientists believe, over time, damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to chronic disease. Recent research has explored the potential health attributes of tea through studies in humans and animal models, and through in vitro laboratory research. For the most part, studies conducted on Green and Black Tea, which are both from the Camellia sinensis plant, have yielded similar results.

While researchers are still examining the various mechanisms by which tea flavonoids function, some studies suggest multifunctional mechanisms, meaning that several mechanisms work in tandem to collectively improve markers for cardiovascular health. Important areas of tea and cardiovascular health research include blood vessel and endothelial function, or the ability of the blood vessels to dilate to allow for proper blood flow, platelet function (blood clotting), serum cholesterol levels and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol oxidation. Each of these factors impacts the risk of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), stroke and cardiovascular disease. Studies have found that tea drinking as part of a healthy lifestyle is associated a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attacks. Clinical studies suggest that the improved heart health associated with tea drinking may be due to improved blood vessel function and decrease platelet activity.

The Tea Council of the USA is a trade association representing U.S. tea growers, producers, importers and manufacturers.

The American Medical Women's Association is an organization, which functions at the local, national, and international level to advance women in medicine and improve women's health. AMWA achieves this by providing and developing leadership, advocacy, education, expertise, mentoring, and strategic alliances.

For more information about the role tea may play in a heart healthy diet, visit http://www.teausa.com/.

   (i) Mukamal KJ, Maclure M, Muller JE, Sherwood JB, Mittleman MA. Tea
       Consumption and Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction.
       Circulation 2002;105:2476.

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