Heart disease health centre

Your healthy heart: a woman’s guide

If you’re like most women, a healthy heart is something you take for granted. And when you hear the words " heart attack", you’re more likely to think of your spouse than yourself.

But studies show that heart disease is the number one threat to a woman’s health. Although traditionally considered a male illness, three times as many women die from heart disease than from the three main female cancers - breast, ovarian and cervical - combined.

Yet heart experts say that far too many women do not take the risk of heart disease seriously and are failing to take steps to prevent it.

"We need for women to start thinking about prevention now. They can’t wait until menopause to take care of their hearts", says Dr Nieca Goldberg, author of Women Are Not Small Men: Life-Saving Strategies for Preventing and Healing Heart Disease.

The experts all agree: don’t be scared, do something about it. To get on the right track, follow these 12 steps towards a healthy heart:

Healthy heart step 1: Be realistic about your risk

"The first roadblock is that heart disease is thought to be a man’s disease and women do not perceive themselves to be at risk", says Dr Thriveni Sanagala, assistant professor of medicine in cardiology at Loyola University Chicago. "Awareness equals motivation to make changes that lead to a healthy heart", she says.

Healthy heart step 2: Know what a heart attack feels like.

What you think is heartburn or nausea could actually be signs of a heart attack. While the most common symptoms in both women and men are chest pain and discomfort, women are more likely to experience other symptoms - shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain, and unexplained fatigue, says Sangala.

Healthy heart step 3: Stop smoking now

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. "Quit now", says  Goldberg. "Find a technique that works for you. Options can be anything from smoking support groups, nicotine replacement and medication, to acupuncture and hypnosis". If one way doesn’t work, try another, and keep trying until you succeed.

Healthy heart step 4: Start your healthy-heart check-ups as early as possible

The British Heart Foundation says that anyone over the age of 40 should be having regular cardiovascular check-ups with their doctor. This means checking cholesterol and blood pressure, and screening for diabetes.

Goldberg goes one step further and says all women should be screened for heart disease from the age of 20. "We have to work on risk factors early, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, smoking and diabetes", she says.

If your mum had a heart attack before age 60 or your dad had one before 45, your family history puts you at increased risk.