KEEPING YOUR HEART HEALTHY

Many women are not aware of their risk of heart disease. In the United States, it is the leading cause of death of women. Each year, more than 300,000 women die from heart disease. This compares to about 40,000 deaths from breast cancer.

Your Heart
Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood through your body. Your heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system) carry oxygen-rich blood to the cells in your body.

Heart Disease
The vessels that supply blood to the heart are called the coronary arteries. The most common cause of heart disease is coronary artery disease.

Who Is At Risk?
Certain factors increase a person’s risk of heart disease. Some of these risk factors, such as age, cannot be changed. Other factors, such as one’s cholesterol levels, can be changed.

A woman’s risk of heart disease is higher if she:

Is aged 55 years or older
Has a family history of heart disease or heart attack
Has a high total cholesterol or high LDL level
Has high blood pressure
Smokes cigarettes
Does not exercise regularly
Is obese
Has diabetes

What You Can Do
You can make lifestyle changes to keep your heart healthy.

Lower Your Blood Pressure
Watch Your Cholesterol
Stop Smoking
Stay Physically Active
Control Your Weight
Manage Your Diabetes

Finally…
Heart disease is as much a threat to women as it is to men. Women should be aware of their risks for developing heart disease so they can take steps to reduce them.