FACTS
Women and Cardiovascular Disease: NEW YORK
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Bonnie Zappolo, New York Survivor
Heart disease and stroke account for 37.8% of
all female deaths in New York.
On average, about 78 women die from heart
disease and stroke in New York each day.
Heart Disease Rates, All Women,
Ages 35+, 2000-2006
Age-adjusted
Average (Annual) Deaths
State Rate
Nation Rate
413
351

Heart disease alone is the leading cause of
death in New York, accounting for 24,998 female deaths in 2009.

Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death for females
in New York, accounting for 3,644 female
deaths in 2009.
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Nearly 55.4% of women in New York are
obese and overweight.
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In New York, 13.0% of women smoke cigarettes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mortality data
based on WISQARS Leading Cause of Death Reports, 2009; state
maps from the Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention; risk
factor data from the BRFSS, 2010.
* Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0-29.9
kg/m2 and obese is defined as having a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater.
Colonie, N.Y., resident Bonnie Zappolo — athletic
and energetic — was diagnosed with heart disease a
few years ago. Although she had high cholesterol,
she never had any major symptoms until the day she
was working out and felt a sudden weight on her
chest. She described this pressure as feeling like an
elephant was putting all of its weight on her.
This continued to happen the next day while she was
on her daily run. She decided it was time to see her
doctor. With Bonnie’s family history of heart disease,
the doctor immediately put her through the standard
medical tests, including a stress test. However, five
minutes into the test, she was forced to stop because
she was having extreme symptoms again. A
catheterization revealed 95 percent blockage in one
of her coronary arteries. A stent was put in the artery
to improve blood flow. After taking a few weeks off to
recover, Bonnie was back to running
six miles a day and began feeling like herself again.
Since then, she has used her ordeal as an
opportunity to encourage family, friends and even
strangers to take precautions and make heart-healthy
choices. Bonnie’s experience shows why the
American Heart Association and its volunteers are
advocating for more research, education and
screening to help prevent and cure heart disease,
stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, the No. 1
killer of women in New York and the United States.