Many Americans have the misconception that heart disease affects mostly men, and women need not worry. To the contrary, statistics show that heart disease is the most serious of all health threats facing women in the U.S. today. Men suffer heart attacks at a younger age than women, but women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men.

The good news is that much can be done to prevent heart disease in women and to increase a woman's chance of survival when heart disease does occur.

Initial symptoms of heart disease in women are more subtle than in men. About half of men suffering from heart disease discover their illness when they have a heart attack. Women, on the other hand, usually experience the chest pains of angina as their first symptom.

The primary risk factors for developing heart disease fall into two main categories: those you can change and those you cannot. Knowing which risk factors apply to you can help you assess your risk of heart disease and help you in preventing it.

Risk factors you can't change include: heredity, race, gender, and age. While you can't do anything about your age, sex, race or parents, you can change your lifestyle in ways that will reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Things you can change include cigarette smoking (the most significant risk factor for heart attack in women), high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and physical inactivity. Inactivity in combination with overeating can lead to increased weight and higher cholesterol levels.

Other risk factors that may contribute to heart disease include diabetes, being overweight, a higher level of stress, and alcohol consumption. If you have questions about your risk for heart disease, ask your physician.

Something to remember--don't wait for heart disease to affect you before taking measures to prevent it. Heart disease is the nation's number one killer of both men and women; but by taking a few precautions and exercising good judgment, you can help protect your health and heart.

For more information about keeping your heart healthy, call the Providence Wellness Center at (254) 751-4792.