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		Search Text: Home/Education and Awareness/< Back ToThe Heart Truth®/Listen to Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease
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  African American Women forming her hand into a Heart
      Women and Heart Disease
        
            Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for women of all ages, but you can keep your heart healthy. The Heart Truth® can help you understand your risk factors and guide you in protecting yourself from heart disease.
      
                          Last updated April 11, 2024
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      Stories of the Heart Videos
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      Social Media Resources
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      Heart Health Fact Sheets
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      Yes, YOU!
  **What Raises Your Risk for Heart Disease?**Risk factors such as family history, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating, smoking, and not managing stress or getting enough sleep can put you at risk for heart disease, even at a young age.Some risk factors for heart disease are unique to women. Check out these resources for tips on how to understand and manage your personal risk factors:The TRUTH About Women and Heart DiseaseHigh Blood Pressure in WomenWomen and Coronary Heart DiseaseHeart Attacks in WomenHeart Health and Menopause
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          **Certain Communities Are More at Risk**For African American and Hispanic/Latina women, the risk of heart disease is especially great.Why? African American and Hispanic/Latina women typically have higher rates of health conditions — such as high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, and diabetes — that increase the risk of heart disease. Having more than one risk factor is especially serious because risk factors tend to impact and worsen each other’s effects.Learn more:The TRUTH About African American Women and Heart Disease Fact SheetOn the Move to Better Heart Health for African AmericansThe TRUTH About Hispanic/Latina Women and Heart Disease Fact Sheet
  **Pregnancy & Heart Health**During pregnancy, your heart works harder than usual to pump blood to you and your baby. Sometimes, the extra stress exposes risks to your heart health that were there before you got pregnant. That extra stress can also cause new problems to emerge during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure (preeclampsia) or gestational diabetes. The good news is that most of these problems are preventable, meaning you can take steps before, during, and after pregnancy to help your heart health. Learn more:Heart Health and PregnancyPregnancy and Your Heart HealthHigh Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
    
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  **Stories of the Heart**Watch these videos to learn about heart health and hear from other women about their heart healthy journey.Stories of the Heart
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          **Tips for Living a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle**There are many things you can do to protect your heart! Start by learning important heart health terms, numbers you should know, and questions to ask your healthcare provider. Living a heart-healthy lifestyle can protect your heart at any age. Take one goal, or risk factor, at a time then address it by taking small steps. Involve friends and family to make your new activities more enjoyable. The bonus —you get to be accountable to someone who cares about you! Learn more:Increase physical activityEat a heart-healthy dietKnow & control your heart health numbersGet quality sleep & reduce stressStop SmokingMaintain a healthy weight
**Additional Federal Resources**CDC Foundation and the Million Hearts’® Live to the Beat Campaign
  Related News
                February 15, 2024Working to increase awareness of heart disease in women
                    
                                                NHLBI effort will reach out to younger women, Black and Latina women to reverse concerning trend Heart disease is the number one cause of death among women and men in the United States. Each year more than 300,000 women, or 1 in every 5, die from it. Yet, studies show that less than half of U.S. women are aware of the toll it can take, and even...
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