title: Breastfeeding: An Unknown Factor to Reduce Heart Disease Risk Among Breastfeeding Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breastfeeding confers many health benefits not only to babies but also to their lactating mothers. Breastfeeding is a notable protective factor in the Gail model for breast cancer and is protective for heart disease. Although individuals in the Appalachian region have lower risk of developing breast cancer, their risk of heart disease is elevated compared with the national value for the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 155 predominantly breastfeeding mothers of toddlers under 3 years old, recruited through parenting groups, daycares, and county extension in Appalachian West Virginia. Participants were asked their perceived comparative risks for breast cancer and heart disease and why they felt their risk was higher, same, or lower than that of the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For breast cancer, 29.7% felt their risk was lower than the general population. For heart disease, 26.5% felt their risk was lower than the general population. Although these risks were highly correlated (p=0.006), there was considerable variability in responses (p<0.03). Qualitative responses for breast cancer risk frequently included breastfeeding (30.3%) and family history (30.3%). Qualitative responses for heart disease noted family history (36.1%) but did not include breastfeeding. A regression analysis found that greater family history, shorter duration of breastfeeding, and fewer pregnancies were associated with greater breast cancer risk perceptions. Family history, lower household income, and current smoking were associated with greater heart disease risk perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These well-educated, predominantly lactating women did not know the protective effects of breastfeeding for heart disease. Increased educational efforts about heart disease may be helpful to encourage more women to breastfeed.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University , Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University , Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Ishveen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University , Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dolly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001061:Appalachian Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology