Women can incorporate exercise into their daily routine, taking the stairs, doing housework. Knowing your risk factors and how to control them Preventive measures can substantially lower your risk for heart disease. Studies have shown that women who smoke tend to suffer their first heart attack an average of 19 years earlier than nonsmokers. Stopping smoking is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent heart disease. Avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and eat more foods high in fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Diabetic women have twice the risk for a fatal heart attack than diabetic men.
You can control diabetes with weight reduction, a strict diet and exercise. High blood pressure. Hypertension is especially critical for African-American women, who have double the risk of death from heart disease compared with other ethnic groups. You can lower high blood pressure through weight reduction, exercise, salt restriction and medications. Age and postmenopausal status.