Cardiovascular disease...

• is the #1 cause of death of women in the U.S.
• includes heart attacks and strokes
• kills twice as many women as all forms of cancer combined
• is frequently not diagnosed in women or incorrectly diagnosed
• leads to different symptoms for women than for men, causing women to respond differently to diagnostic tests and sometimes requiring different treatment
• is often ignored by women who think their symptoms will go away

Risk factors for heart disease:

• Smoking
• Family history of heart disease
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol level
• Obesity
• If you carry more fat above the hips than below
• Previous personal history of heart attack or stroke

Warning signs for women:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes
• Jaw pain radiating down to the neck and arm
• Paleness
• Indigestion/upper abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath with mild exertion
• Chronic fatigue without reason
• Racing or irregular heartbeat
• Heart palpitations -- very strong or fast
• Unexplained perspiration or cold sweat
• Lightheadedness, fainting, dizziness
• Nausea
• Lower back pain without apparent cause

What can I do?

• Talk to your doctor about your risk factors
• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
• Aerobic exercise 30-60 minutes, 5-7 days a week
• Adopt a low fat diet
• Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
• Keep your blood pressure under 140/90
• Have your cholesterol checked, keep levels less than 200 total, and HDL greater than or equal to 40
• Discuss the risks and benefits of hormone therapy with your doctor
• Develop strategies to adapt to stress

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