Childrearing women and their families: setting the stage for heart health.

The presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRF) predicts the development of cardiac and other vascular diseases across all ages. Children and families with elevated CVRF have a much higher risk for CVD compared with families with normal CVRF and heart healthy lifestyles. Women and mothers play an important role in the CV health of their children, family, and community. A woman's understanding of her personal CVDRF, her active involvement in managing these RFs, and how this involvement translates into improved family heart health is not well understood. The purpose of this article is to discuss awareness in women regarding personal CVDRF, whether this awareness leads to improve personal heart health, and does awareness then translate into improved family heart health.