Did you know

The Heart Truth is heart disease is not a “man’s disease.” It is the #1 killer of women, regardless of race, or ethnicity. In 2007, one in four women died of heart disease, while one in 30 dies of breast cancer. The risk of heart disease rises as women approach middle age, but it also strikes at younger ages than most people think. The good news is heart disease is often preventable by leading a healthy lifestyle. By following the Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines for Women the risk of developing heart disease could be reduced by as much as 82%.

Learn more about The Heart Truth campaign.

Be Heart Healthy at every age

Some risk factors such as age and family history of early heart disease cannot be changed, but there are risk factors that you can do something about:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Being physically inactive
• Having a family history of early heart disease
• Age (55 or older for women)
  
  Learn about how to have a Healthy Heart at Any Age at the American Heart Association’s Go Red site.

Know the warning signs of a heart attack

Women and men respond to a heart attack differently. Women are less likely to believe they are having a heart attack and more likely to delay seeking emergency treatment. Also, women generally are about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack.

Be sure you and the other women in your life know the warning signs of a heart attack.
Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.

Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Other symptoms, such as a shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Watch this video of one family’s experience with heart disease.

Sintomas de un ataque al corazon

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