Women Heart Disease Is Your Problem Too

By Angela Marshall, MD

Comprehensive Women’s Health

More Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes Articles

Women Heart Disease Is Your Problem Too

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing approximately 300,000 women each year that'sone in every fourfemale deaths.

Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a “man's disease,” around the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States. Despite increases in awareness over the past decade,manywomen still fail to recognize that heart disease is theirnumber one killer.

Being aware of heart disease is important but it is even more important for every woman to understand her individual risk. As such, here are ten questions that every woman should ask her doctor

1. What is my risk for heart disease?

2. What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me, and what do I need to do about it?

3. What are my cholesterol numbers? (These include total cholesterol, LDL or “bad” cholesterol, HDL or “good” cholesterol, and triglycerides.) What do they mean for me, and what do I need to do about them?

4. What are my “body mass index” and waist measurement? Do they indicate that I need to lose weight for my health?

5. What is my blood sugar level, and does it mean I'm at risk for diabetes?

6. What other screening tests for heart disease do I need? How often should I return for checkups for my heart health?

7. What can you do to help me quit smoking?

8. How much physical activity do I need to help protect my heart?

9. What is a heart-healthy eating plan for me? Should I see a registered dietitian or qualified nutritionist to learn more about healthy eating?

10. How can I tell if I'm having a heart attack?

The more women know about heart disease, the better prepared they can be to advocate for the care they need and deserve.