Women and Heart Disease

While many still believe heart disease is a man’s health issue – it’s actually the No. 1 killer of women.

In fact, one in four women in the United States dies each year from cardiovascular disease.

The older a woman gets, the more her chance increases for developing heart disease. Following a healthy lifestyle and taking steps to protect your heart are important to reduce your risk of heart problems in the future. It’s also important to consult your physician on the best heart-healthy steps to take.

A few tips to curb heart disease:

Don't Smoke:

Smoking increases blood pressure, reduces your ability to exercise effectively and increases the possibility of blood clot formation, according to the American Heart Association. Women who smoke and also use oral contraceptives are at an even greater risk of heart disease. Quitting smoking may help reduce your blood pressure and allow you to take steps toward both a healthier heart and lungs.

Follow a healthy diet:

A heart-healthy diet is rich in nutrients and low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, poultry, fish, whole grains and legumes helps nourish your body while keeping fat and calories at bay. Eating foods high in saturated fat may contribute to heart problems over time, while polyunsaturated fats and monosaturated fats are heart healthy. These "good fats" are found in foods such as avocados, peanut butter, salmon and olive and canola oils. Watching sodium intake is also important for your heart. Avoid adding additional salt to foods and consider purchasing low-sodium prepared food products.

The American Heart Association suggests consuming less than 2300 mg of sodium per day, or following your physician's recommended amount.

Exercise is key:

Regular physical exercise is important for regulating your body weight, increasing blood circulation and reducing stress -- all of which may impact heart health. Physical activity -- such as walking, running or swimming -- is recommended for 30 minutes, three times per week. The American Heart Association states that while more research needs to be done on the correlation between stress in women and heart disease, stress may increase a woman's risk of heart disease.

See Your Doctor:

Regular physical examinations can uncover problems that may lead to heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. We recommend healthy women having blood pressure checked at least every one to two years, or sooner as advised by your physician, because long-term high blood pressure may lead to heart disease. High cholesterol may clog arteries and increase your risk of a heart attack; having regular cholesterol blood work will help determine if levels are too high.