Women and Heart Disease Prevention
Wear red in February for American Heart Month and National Wear
Red Day (the first Friday in February) to help raise awareness
about heart disease, but don't stop there. Make sure you know the
signs of a heart attack, ask your doctor questions about heart
health, and learn how to lower your risk for heart disease.
Having high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, smoking,
and having had a previous heart attack, stroke, or diabetes can
increase your chances of having a heart attack.
Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease
Eating healthy, staying active, being smoke-free, and getting
regular check-ups are simple steps you can take to lower your risk
for heart disease.
Heart Disease
Prevention: What You Can Do
How Do I Find Out If I am at Risk for Heart
Disease? (NIH)
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Know the risk factors that may increase your chances of getting
heart disease.
- Alcohol
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Diabetes
- Diet
- Heredity
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Tobacco use
Heart Disease Risk
Factors
Heart Attack Risk Calculator
Ask Questions
Take this list to your next appointment, and get the
answers.
- What is my risk for heart disease?
- What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me, and what
do I need to do about it?
- What are my cholesterol numbers (including total cholesterol,
LDL or “bad” cholesterol, HDL or “good” cholesterol, and
triglycerides)? What do they mean for me, and what do I need to do
about them?
- What is my “body mass index” and waist measurement? Is my BMI
in the “normal” range? Do I need to lose weight for my health?
- What is my blood sugar level? Am I at risk for diabetes?
- What other screening tests for heart disease do I need? How
often should I return for checkups for my heart health?
- What can I do to quit smoking?
- How much physical activity do I need to help protect my
heart?
- What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me? Should I see a
registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about
healthy eating?
- How can I tell if I’m having a heart attack?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor (NIH)
Check Your Risk for
Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Quit Smoking
Today!
Know the Signs, and Act Immediately
A woman suffers a heart attack every 90 seconds in the United
States. If you think you or someone you know is having a heart
attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. The good news is
that if you seek help quickly, treatment can save your life and
prevent permanent damage to your heart muscle. Treatment works best
if given within 1 hourof when symptoms
begin. Common symptoms are:
- Unusually heavy pressure on the chest, like there's a ton of
weight on you
- Sharp upper body pain in the neck, back, and jaw
- Severe shortness of breath
- Cold sweats (not hot flashes from menopause)
- Unusual or unexplained fatigue (tiredness)
- Unfamiliar dizziness or light-headedness
- Unexplained nausea (feeling sick to the stomach) or
vomiting
Make The
Call. Don’t Miss A Beat
Signs and Symptoms of
Stroke
Send a Heart Health-e-Card
Help raise awareness about heart disease and show your loved
ones you care by sending them a heart health-e-card!
Women’s Health
Heart Health E-Cards
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Heart Health E-Cards
Heart Health Posters