More than one-third of women have cardiovascular disease – and many don’t even know it.  Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease have no obvious symptoms beforehand, although it’s likely these women may have subtle symptoms up to a month before a cardiac event and simply don’t recognize them.

Every minute, a woman dies from heart disease, stroke or another form of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, resulting in more deaths than all types of cancer combined.

So if you’re a woman, what do you need to do to keep your heart healthier?

Know Your Risk

Approximately 90% of women have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Primary risk factors include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Being physically inactive
• Eating a poor diet
• Smoking
• Excessively using alcohol or drugs
• Having high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
• Having diabetes or prediabetes
• Having a family history of early heart disease

The good news is that you can reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control many of your risk factors, such as eating healthy, exercising, losing weight and quitting smoking. You should also know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and be screened for diabetes.

Pay Attention to Symptoms

Women don’t always have the same symptoms as men if they are having a heart attack. Some symptoms mimic other conditions and may be dismissed as something less serious. Symptoms in women may include:

• Chest pain
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, back, shoulder or arm
• Extreme fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Nausea or vomiting
• Profuse sweating

Symptoms can sneak up on you without raising any red flags, but if something doesn’t feel right, it shouldn’t be ignored and you should see a doctor.

Are you at risk for heart disease? Find out now.

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