It is often mistaken for indigestion. Heart disease is the number-one killer of both men and women in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 500,000 women and 450,000 men annually. However, a 1995 Gallup survey revealed that 80 percent of women do not realize they have a much greater chance of dying from heart disease than from breast cancer. To increase the chance of early detection, experts say women should know their risk factors, be able to recognize symptoms and improve lifestyle habits. She also stresses that women should know their key risk factors, such as age and obesity, as well as follow a practical approach to such lifestyle habits as exercise.
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.