Women of every age should guard against high blood pressure and high cholesterol, control obesity, and avoid smoking. After menopause, the risk of heart disease equals that in men. One authority at the American Heart Association says that women must learn to put their health above those of family and their jobs. Women's symptoms of heart attack are different from mens. While men may describe a crushing pain in their chests, women may experience breathing problems and only mild chest pain.
Many women dismiss the initial signs of heart disease as hiatal hernia, flu, or muscle strain.
Be aware of the signs of a heart attack. Many heart attacks in women are preceded by months of warning signs that are ignored.