The importance of womens heart health can best be illustrated by statistics from the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI): 1 in 4 American women die from heart disease. Though progress has been made with regards to awareness, most women still fail to make a connection between risk factors and their own personal risk of developing heart disease.

Heart disease is a collection of cardiovascular diseases that cause disorders in the heart and blood vessels. Womens heart health risk factors like age and family history cannot be changed, but there are plenty that can and should be changed (from NHLBI):

· Don't smoke, and if you do, quit.  Women who smoke are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smoking women.  Smoking also boosts the risk of stroke and cancer.

· Aim for a healthy weight.  It's important for a long, vigorous life.  Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths.

· Get moving.  Make a commitment to be more physically active.  Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Eat for womens heart health.  Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.

· Know your numbers.  Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose.  Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.

Womens heart health

More than 500,000 women die annually in the U.S. of heart attack or stroke, making cardiovascular disease the main cause of death in women. Heart attack is more likely to cause death in women than in men. Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk (as much as double the risk of younger women or men) of heart attack (National Conference of State Legislators at www.ncsl.org/programs/health/Forum/womenshealth.htm).

Cholesterol levels, which increase more rapidly in women over 50 from diet or other factors including smoking, increase the risk of heart disease. Importantly, the risk of heart attack decreases 24 hours after smoking is stopped[GB1] (www.4women.gov/Quitsmoking). For heart health, cholesterol levels should be maintained within healthy ranges by diet, exercise, and/or medication.