Mind & Body

Risk Factors that increase a women’s risk for HEART DISEASE:

55 or older or postmenopausal. One reason is the decline in the hormone estrogen (which offers women some heart protection) that occurs after menopause.

High blood pressure. This damages the heart's arteries. In addition, women are more prone to heart disease if they had high blood pressure during pregnancy, a condition known as pre-eclampsia.

High cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol (the bad kind of cholesterol) in the blood can clog arteries in the heart, triggering a heart attack.

Diabetes. Or if you have its precursor, prediabetes.

Family history of early heart disease. If your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55 or your mother or sister had one before age 65, your risk rises too.

Overweight or obese. Extra weight is hard on the heart.

Unhealthy lifestyle choices. These include eating unhealthy foods, smoking or not exercising.

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk for heart disease and how to lower it.

SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK.

• Chest pain or discomfort

• Discomfort in other areas of the body. These can include one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

• Shortness of breath

• Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Nausea

• Syncope (feeling faint or light-headed)

Call 911 if you experience any of these symptoms.