Women's Heart Health Tips

Coronary Artery Disease is the number one killer of all women - more than all the cancers combined. Follow the heart health tips below to make sure you are not at risk.

1. Know your potential for heart disease. Examples of risk factors include increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and a family history of heart disease. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk for heart disease.
2. Know your numbers - blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. All of these can affect your heart directly or indirectly.
3. Know the symptoms. Women's symptoms are much less obvious than men's. They do not usually have chest pain. Often women's only signs are pain in the arm or neck (usually left), nausea or excessive sweating. Diabetic women are at a greater risk to have minimal symptoms. Some women may have no symptoms, but their "numbers" and family history are cautionary signs.
4. Do not smoke. Smoking constricts the blood vessels, making a smaller heart valve blockage more significant.
5. Exercise and eat right. Physical activity and a healthy diet are good first steps to increasing your heart health.
6. Trim the inches around your waist. Studies have shown that women with abdominal obesity - meaning most of your weight is carried at your stomach - are at a greater risk for developing Coronary Artery Disease.