A heart to heart with Cheryl Ladd
By: Staci M. Giordullo

A vibrant personality coupled with her grace and beauty are just a few of the reasons why Cheryl Ladd remains a star in Tinseltown. Cheryl, 55, has come a long way from her days as one of “Charlie’s Angels”. She is the author of Token Chick: A Woman’s Guide to Golfing with the Boys, an autobiographical tale recounting her experiences with golf. Friday nights on NBC, her smile lights up the small screen starring opposite James Caan in “Las Vegas”. On a personal note, Cheryl and her husband, Brian Russell, have reason to celebrate as they recently welcomed their first grandson to the family.

Cheryl will be featured as the keynote speaker at the Go Red for Women Luncheon on May 4th. We recently had the opportunity to speak with her about her ongoing dedication to women’s health issues.

Q: How did you become involved with the Go Red movement?

A: I am a real advocate for women’s health. I have given lectures on women going through the menopausal years and what happens to your body. It’s really essential for women to speak with their doctors and be updated on their health status, especially concerning their heart. So many women reach those menopausal years and they just don’t go to the doctor.

Q: What is your history with heart health?

A: I have heart disease on both sides of my family. My father died of a heart attack at 72-years-old and from that moment on I have been pursuing a lot of questions as to what my family’s history is. It (his death) came as such a shock.

Q: A lot of women aren’t aware of the correlation between menopause and their increased risk for heart disease. How did the knowmenopause.com campaign become such a passion for you?

A: It’s just amazing what this time of life does to you overall. The person that you are before menopause – health wise - and the person you are after can change so dramatically in such a short amount of time. That’s why it was important for me to attach my name to it and get women to go to the doctor. I know I had health issues of my own I had to deal with.

Q: Menopause is such a personal issue, do you find it difficult to talk about?

A: Most definitely it is difficult to talk about. However, it’s got to come out of the closet. We’re not helping each other by not talking about it. If men can talk about erectile dysfunction, we can certainly talk about menopause.

Q: The information about menopause is so vague and so often women don’t discuss their symptoms with their doctors. How important is the relationship between a woman and her physician?

A: It’s so important to talk to women about the fact that there is no “one size fits all”. You really have to be examined individually and hopefully that is with a physician you have been with for some time. It’s such an advantage. You can really understand what the changes are and what’s right for you. I never tell anyone what I do or what my treatment is. I don’t want anyone doing something just because I do it. That is so dangerous. It is so essential to understand what your symptoms are so you can be very clear when you go to the doctor.

Q: Obviously stress is a major factor in heart health. How do you deal with the stress of Hollywood?

A: First thing is to move out of Los Angeles! My husband and I moved away from the city awhile ago and it’s been the best thing for us. But I go exercise. I walk everyday, which is great stress relief. I try to walk with my girlfriends. Or I walk with my dog – a standard poodle - the half mile hill that is our driveway. I try to do that twice a day. I go to water aerobics where one of the ladies in the class is 93-years-old. She is my inspiration. I hope to be as fit as she is when I’m her age. It is very important for everyone to find something that will lower your stress level. You have to find a way to breathe.

Q: We know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country. What can women do in their everyday lives to take control of their heart health?

A: The thing we have the most control over is our weight. We know that all the extra pounds will contribute to poor heart health. Women need to eat healthy and be very aware of their bodies, their cholesterol and blood pressure. I think walking, or any form of exercise, is key to stress relief. It is our responsibility to nurture our own health.

Q: You’re surrounded by actresses in their 20s and 30s…How do you convey the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to them?

A: I find it easiest to show them by example, by the way I live my life. There is so much pressure in this business to be thin. When you are young you tend to do stupid things. When I first started, I was encouraged to smoke because I had to be a certain weight. Looking back, it was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Now, I will talk to young actresses if I see them smoking and share my story.

Q: I know a lot of our readers are excited to hear you speak at the Go Red luncheon… have you thought about your speech? What you’ll be sharing with everyone?

A: I always hope to be as encouraging as possible to everyone there. I plan to share some personal stories and advice that I have found useful in my life. One idea I would like to leave with each woman is the significance in finding what really matters in her life. What does she want to accomplish? It is important to focus on what makes you happy. Worry is a killer.

Q: You’ve been married for more than 20 years, which is nothing short of a Hollywood miracle. What is your secret?

A: You have to marry the right person. Both of you have to want to be in the marriage. If one person wants it more than the other, it won’t work. Nagging doesn’t work. Although one of my greatest accomplishments is getting my husband to commit to an annual physical! You have to take an interest in each other. One of the greatest gifts my husband has ever given me is the gift of golf. It is a joy in my life when we get to play together, or when I get to play at all!