WISEWOMAN Program Overview

The West Virginia WISEWOMAN program screens for heart disease and stroke risk factors. The following risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease are specifically targeted:

  • Abnormal blood pressure (140/90 mmHg)
  • Diagnosed hypertension
  • High total cholesterol (≥ 200 mg/dL)
  • Abnormal glucose (≥ 100 mg/dL fasting or ≥ 200 mg/dL non-fasting)
  • Diagnosis of diabetes
  • Tobacco use
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25
  • Eating less than 5 fruits or vegetables per day
  • Exercising less than 150 minutes per week

Lifestyle Intervention

In addition to screening services, the WV WISEWOMAN program offers WISEWOMAN participants education and counseling services to decrease their heart disease, stroke, and other chronic disease risk factors by improving their nutrition habits and promoting physical activity and smoking cessation.

WISEWOMAN participants are offered:

  • Risk reduction and behavior counseling
  • Pedometers for women who have been medically cleared for physical activity
  • Information about community resources for nutrition and physical activity
  • Referrals to the West Virginia Tobacco Quitline or other smoking cessation programs