Women Play Key Role in Family Heart Health Published Feb. 28, 2014 By xxxYolanda Arrington FALLS CHURCH., Va. -- Participants strike a warrior pose during a yoga class at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Fitness Center on June 11, 2011. Photo by Lance Cpl. Katalynn Rodgers. Stress, poor diet and too little sleep have become part of the daily routine for many Americans. But this type of daily grind could be putting your heart's health in jeopardy. Military cardiologist Todd Villines wants women to be especially mindful of heart health. "Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women. Stroke, heart attack and heart failure kill more women than all forms of cancer combined," said Villines, who is director of cardiovascular research at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. One in 30 women die from breast cancer each year, he said, but one in three will die from cardiovascular disease. Yet few women see heart disease as a great threat. He hopes to change that and get more women to put heart disease on their radar screens. "Women have so much on their plates: whether it be active duty [service], raising a family, working outside of the home or being caregivers," noted Villines, a lieutenant colonel in the Army. The perception remains that heart disease does not impact women the way it does men. Villines told Health.mil the Army's new Performance Triad aims to empower patients and put heart health at top of mind for Military Health System beneficiaries. Women are key because they are often the ones making food choices for the family. Women also serve as family educators. They can impress upon the family to make smarter health choices overall, like getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night. "Not only does [lack of sleep] make people less ready to do their jobs, it's also strongly associated with poor eating habits, depression and cardiovascular disease," said Villines. "Getting enough sleep is also a surefire way to deal with stress," he added. Women should take charge of their health by quitting smoking, losing weight if they need to and - another component of the Triad - getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. "When I talk with my patients, I tell them to pull out their calendars and put exercise on [it], just like they were going to a meeting. Make it a priority and schedule things around it," said Villines. He noted that women can pass along good health habits to their children by encouraging them to engage in physical activity on a daily basis. Nutrition is equally important when it comes to heart health. Poor eating habits may lead to obesity, which, as Villines pointed out, is one of the most important public health concerns. "We need to make people think twice about what they eat and make that a part of their daily routine. If we champion these Triad components [sleep, activity and nutrition] as providers, we'll see a healthier force." Learn more about the Performance Triad. Follow Operation Live Well on Twitter for daily health tips.