THE earTRUTH

FOR WOMEN

When you hear the term “heart disease,” what’s your first

reaction? Like many women, you may think, “That’s a

man’s disease.” But here’s The Heart Truth: Heart disease

is the #1 killer of women in the United States. One in four

women dies of heart disease.

For African American women, the risk of heart disease is

especially great. Heart disease is more prevalent among

black women than white women—as are some of the factors

that increase the risk of developing it, including high blood

pressure, overweight and obesity, and diabetes.

But there’s good news too: You can take action and lower

your chance of developing heart disease and its risk factors.

In fact, women can lower their heart disease risk by as much

as 82 percent just by leading a healthy lifestyle. This fact

sheet gives steps you can take to protect your heart health.

WHAT IS HEART DISEASE?

Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart

disease. Often referred to simply as “heart disease,” it is 

a disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead 

to a heart attack. It is a lifelong condition and will steadily

worsen unless you make changes in your daily habits.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Lifestyle affects many of the “risk factors” for heart disease.

Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the chances

of developing a disease or having it worsen. For heart disease,

there are two types—those you can’t change and those you

can control. The ones you can’t change are a family history of

early heart disease and age, which for women becomes a risk

factor at 55. That’s because, after menopause, women are

more likely to get heart disease. Partly, this is because their

body no longer produces estrogen. Also, middle age is a time

when women tend to develop other heart disease risk factors.

But most of the risk factors can be controlled. Often, all it

takes are lifestyle changes; sometimes, medication also is

needed. Here’s a quick review of these risk factors:

Smoking. About one in five black women smokes. Quit,

and just one year later, your heart disease risk will drop by

more than half. There’s no easy way to quit but making a

plan helps. You also can try an organized program or a

medication—ask your doctor if either is right for you.

High Blood Pressure. Also called hypertension, high

blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke,

and congestive heart failure. Even levels slightly above normal—

called “prehypertension”—increase your heart disease risk.

Black women develop high blood pressure earlier in life and

have higher average blood pressures compared with white

women. About 37 percent of black women have high

blood pressure. Hypertension also increases the risk of

stroke and congestive heart failure—and black women have

high rates of both.

Lower elevated blood pressure by following a heart healthy

eating plan, including limiting your intake of salt and other

forms of sodium, getting regular physical activity, maintaining

a healthy weight, and, if you drink alcoholic beverages, doing

so in moderation (not more than one drink a day). If you have

high blood pressure, you also may need to take medication.

THE HEART TRUTH FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: AN ACTION PLAN
One good eating plan, shown to lower elevated blood pressure,

is called the DASH eating plan—for a copy of the plan, 

contact the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Health Information Center, which is listed in “To Learn More.”

High Blood Cholesterol. Nearly half of black women

have a total cholesterol that’s too high. Excess cholesterol

and fat in your blood builds up in the walls of vessels that

supply blood to the heart and can lead to blockages. 

A “lipoprotein profile” tests your levels of the key types 

of cholesterol—total, LDL (“bad”), and HDL (“good”) 

cholesterol—and triglycerides, a fatty substance in the blood.

Lower cholesterol by following a heart healthy eating plan,

being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and,

if needed, taking medication.

Overweight/Obesity. Nearly 80 percent of black women

are overweight or obese, increasing the risk not only of

heart disease but also a host of other conditions, including

stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, and some cancers. If

you’re overweight, even a small weight loss will help lower

your risk. At the very least, try not to gain more weight.

Lasting weight loss needs a change of lifestyle—adopt a

healthy, lower-calorie eating plan and get regular physical

activity. Aim to lose no more than 1

/2 to 2 pounds per week.

Physical Inactivity. Fifty-five percent of black women are

physically inactive. They do no spare-time physical activity.

Physical activity is crucial for good health, including heart

health. Try to do at least 30 minutes of a moderate-intensity

activity such as brisk walking on most, and preferably, all

days of the week. If you need to, divide the period into

shorter ones of at least 10 minutes each.

Diabetes. About 11 million Americans have been diagnosed

with diabetes—and another 5.7 million don’t know they

have it. About two-thirds of those with diabetes die of a

heart or blood vessel disease.

The type of diabetes that adults most commonly develop is

“type 2.” Diabetes can be detected with a blood sugar

test. Modest changes in diet and level of physical activity

can often prevent or delay the development of diabetes.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR 

1. What is my risk for heart disease?

2. What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for

me, and what do I need to do about it?

3. What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include

total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, a type of

fat found in the blood and food.) What do they mean

for me, and what do I need to do about them?

4. What are my “body mass index” (BMI) and waist 

measurement? Do they mean that I need to lose 

weight for my health?

5. What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I’m at

risk for diabetes? If so, what do I need to do about it?

6. What other screening tests for heart disease do I need?

7. What can you do to help me quit smoking?

8. How much physical activity do I need to help protect

my heart?

9. What’s a heart healthy eating plan for me?

10. How can I tell if I may be having a heart attack? 

If I think I’m having one, what should I do?

TAKING ACTION

Now that you know The Heart Truth, what should you do?

Begin by finding out your “risk profile.” See the box above

for questions to ask your doctor. Then begin taking the

steps to heart health—don’t smoke, follow a heart healthy

eating plan, be physically active, and maintain a healthy

weight. Start today to keep your heart strong.

TO LEARN MORE

NHLBI Health Information Center

Phone: 301-592-8573

TTY: 240-629-3255

www.hearttruth.gov

American Heart Association

Phone: 1-888-MY HEART

www.americanheart.org

WomenHeart: the National Coalition 

for Women with Heart Disease

Phone: 202-728-7199

www.womenheart.org

Office on Women’s Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Women’s Health Information Center

Phone: 1-800-994-WOMAN

TDD: 1-888-220-5446

www.womenshealth.gov

NIH Publication No. 07-5066

Originally printed September 2003

Revised December 2007

The Heart Truth and Red Dress are trademarks of DHHS.

DIANE 

”By age 43, I had suffered from congestive

heart failure and a damaged heart muscle.

My experience with heart disease started with

typical symptoms. It took me some time to get

my strength back, but now I exercise regularly

and eat healthy foods. To me, The Heart Truth

is a way of informing women about what they

can do to prevet heart disease.”