Look for ways to reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke.

While breast cancer dominates the headlines, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.

The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable. “Momma” usually takes care of everyone in the family first before thinking of herself. Therefore, the first step in preventing heart disease is recognizing your risk.

Risk Factors

Women with one or more of these risk factors should take note:

• End-stage or chronic renal disease
• Diabetes
• History of cigarette smoking
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity (especially abdominal obesity)
• Family history of heart disease or stroke
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal cholesterol (LDL > 100 mg/dl, HDL <50 mg/dl, triglyceride > 150 mg/dl)
• Coronary calcification noted on CT scan
• Metabolic syndrome
• Poor exercise capacity

Women who are considered at risk can lower their risk through lifestyle changes and drug therapies.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle recommendations include:

• Maintain or lose weight to maintain/achieve a waist circumference of less than 35 inches and normal body weight
• Increase physical activity to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking) daily. Women who need to lose weight or sustain weight loss need a minimum of 60-90 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily.
• Drink alcohol in moderation (no more than one drink per day)
• Eat less salt and sodium-containing products; include fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Consume fish, especially oily fish such as salmon, at least twice a week.
• Stop smoking. Counseling and nicotine replacement can help.

Medications

Drug therapies include:

• Treatment for depression when indicated
• Medications are needed (along with lifestyle changes) when blood pressure is greater than 140/85.
• Cholesterol-lowering drug therapy (along with lifestyle changes) to achieve an LDL less than 100 mg/dL (or lower if there are other health concerns)
• Medications are needed (along with lifestyle changes) in women with diabetes to achieve a Hemoglobin A1C of less than 7%
• Low dose aspirin can help prevent stroke in high risk women 65 years or older

Symptoms

Sadly, for many women the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to your body. The sooner you recognize the signs of heart attack, the sooner you can seek treatment… and time means the difference between life and death. A coronary calcium score is an excellent way to determine if you have heart artery blockages.

While some women experience the “classic” heart attack symptom—crushing or squeezing pain in the chest,” most women have some of the lesser-known symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexplained weakness and fatigue
• Light-headedness
• Burning sensation in the upper abdomen
• Pain in the stomach, arm, back or jaw
• Discomfort between the shoulder blades
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Bottom line: No matter your age, look for ways to reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke. The risk is real, but making lifestyle changes and talking to your health care provider about your risks can help you avoid a heart-related disaster.