Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. According to the American Heart Association, more than one in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease. Risk factors can be hereditary, but other factors are related to your habits and lifestyle — things you can control and change to minimize your risk of developing heart disease. Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine and women’s health physician Dr. Ruth Tiffault explains steps you can take to help prevent heart disease.
• Stop smoking. If you smoke, you are two to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than a nonsmoking woman.
• Control your blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly, and if it’s too high, work with your health care provider to keep it under control.
• Lower your cholesterol. One-fourth of American women have high cholesterol. Follow your health care provider’s advice for keeping it low.