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WISEWOMAN

The Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program offers cardiovascular (heart health) screenings at clinics in Colorado.

WISEWOMAN services include a discussion of your test results and risk of heart disease, a follow-up medical evaluation if needed, and services to help you improve your heart health. The program can help you control your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. All services are free to those who are eligible.
 

Step 1 - Find out if WISEWOMAN is the right program for you.

The WISEWOMAN program serves clients ages 35 to 64 with no health insurance or limited insurance who are also on a limited income. To participate in WISEWOMAN, you must also enroll in the Women's Wellness Connection (WWC) program. Learn more about whether you may qualify on the WWC/WISEWOMAN eligibility webpage.

Step 2 - Find the WISEWOMAN clinic nearest you.

To find the WISEWOMAN clinic nearest you, click on our interactive map or search by county.

Step 3 - Schedule your appointment.

Call the WISEWOMAN clinic directly to verify that you are eligible and to schedule your appointment. During your appointment, you will meet with a doctor or other health care professional for an assessment of your heart health risk and tests including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar (A1C or glucose). The WISEWOMAN clinic will discuss your test results with you, arrange for a follow-up medical evaluation if needed, and offer you services to help reduce your risk of heart disease. 

Learn more about what to expect during your WISEWOMAN appointment on this webpage about what happens during a heart health screening.

Why get screened?

Addressing risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity, inactivity, diabetes, and smoking greatly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease-related illness and death for women.*

  • Heart disease and stroke combined kill more Coloradans than any other diseases (1).
  • Almost half (45.6%) of all Colorado women aged 40 to 64 have been diagnosed with either high blood pressure or high cholesterol (2).
  • Colorado women living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level are almost three times as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and are more likely to have heart disease risk factors such as being overweight or obese, smoking tobacco, low physical activity levels, low fruit and vegetable intake, and high sugary drink consumption (3).
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for African-Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Caucasians. For Hispanics and Asian Americans, heart disease is second only to cancer as a cause of death (4).
  • According to the American Heart Association, almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.

Sources

  1. Colorado Health Information Dataset (COHID), Mortality Statistics, 2021.
  2. Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDPHE, 2021.
  3. Colorado Health Data and Statistics, CDPHE, 2020.
  4. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2019, National Vital Statistics Reports, CDC, 2019.

*The term "women" is used throughout this page because the report data is reported specific to this gender.

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