Related information To learn more about healthy eating and physical activity, visit our special section on fitness and nutrition. Also, learn more about how healthy choices can make a difference in your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention

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Heart attack, stroke, and other forms of heart disease are a threat to so many women. But you can take steps to protect your heart and lower your risk. Steps include getting regular physical activity, making healthy food choices, knowing your numbers and taking good care of yourself overall. It is also important to make sure you talk to your doctor about heart health and the use of menopausal hormone therapy or aspirin.

Heart Healthy Steps

Physical Activity

You don’t have to become a super athlete, but your body needs to move. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans state that an active lifestyle can lower your risk of early death from heart disease, stroke, and many other health problems. It can also boost your mood. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:

• Aerobic activity that includes:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous activity

and

• Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of the week

So pick an activity you like, and do it often.

Healthy Eating

Eating fatty, greasy food can make you put on weight. But that’s not the only risk. Unhealthy eating has a direct impact on your arteries, your blood pressure, your glucose level, among other things. You don’t need to go on a special diet to eat healthy. Just make sure you focus on eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, beans, peas, nuts, and lean meats. The foods you eat should also be low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol (koh-LESS-tur-ol), salt, and added sugars. If you drink alcohol, do it moderately. Women should drink no more than one alcoholic drink per day.

Knowing Your Numbers

Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood sugar levels. These simple screening tests will give you important information about your heart health. Your doctor can tell you what your numbers mean and what you need to do to protect your heart. Check out the Preventive Health section on this site to learn how often you need these screening tests.

Taking Care of Yourself

Stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep have all been linked to increased risk of heart disease. And they’re not doing your mind or the rest of your body any good either. You may feel that you don't have enough time to take a break or get enough sleep now. But the possible results of overloading yourself, including heart attack and stroke, aren't worth it. In the midst of all you do, it's important to make time for yourself. Make sure you get the amount of sleep you need each day to wake up feeling refreshed. Take steps to keep stress in check, such as taking time each day to relax and unwind with friends or loved ones. And if you’re having trouble coping because of depression, anxiety, or other emotional health issues, get help. Your doctor or a counselor can teach you healthy ways to reduce stress or suggest treatment for depression or other mental health problems. Although we don’t know if treating emotional problems or reducing stress lowers heart disease risk, doing so will boost your overall health and well-being.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Fact Sheet — Heart Disease — This fact sheet on women and heart disease includes information about risk factors, prevention, and treatment of heart disease.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/heart-disease.cfm

2.   Fact Sheet — Stroke — This fact sheet answers questions about stroke, including information about warning signs, effects, and risk factors.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/stroke.cfm

3.   Aspirin for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Know the Facts — Before you decide to use aspirin to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research suggests that you talk with your health care provider to learn the effects of aspirin on your health.

   http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm133431.htm...

4.     Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart — You know you should be more physically active. But are you confused, concerned, or just can't get started? This guide uses science-based information to help adults develop a safe and effective program of physical activity that can be sustained. Find out about the importance of physical activity in reducing heart disease risk and how to begin or maintain an activity program that's right for you!

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/phy_active.pdf

5. ABCs of Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke (Copyright © American Heart Association) — this web page explains the ABCs of preventing heart attack and stroke: Avoiding tobacco, becoming more active, and choosing good nutrition.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3035374

6.   Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors (Copyright © Journal of the American Medical Association) — This fact sheet describes the main risk factors of coronary heart disease. Some factors you can control, and some you cannot, but it is important to do what you can to keep your heart healthy and strong.

   http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/302/21/2388.pdf

7. Five Medication-Free Strategies to Help Prevent Heart Disease (Copyright © Mayo Foundation) — If you are at risk of developing heart disease because of family history or lifestyle factors, follow these five simple steps for preventing heart disease. These steps include stopping tobacco use, eating a healthy diet, and exercising.

   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041

8. Healthy Living After Stroke (Copyright © American Stroke Association) — People who have had a stroke in the past are at higher risk of having another. These tips from the American Heart Association discuss how nutrition, physical activity, following your doctor’s orders, and other factors can help reduce your risk.

   http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030379

9. Heart Attack/Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) — The American Heart Association has developed a heart attack and interactive coronary heart disease assessment tool for people aged 20 years and older who do not already have heart disease or diabetes. After completing your assessment, you can print your results and use them to help reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3056666

10. Heart Disease and Heart Attacks: What Women Need to Know (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — Women are at risk of heart attack just like men, but the signs and symptoms can be different. This fact sheet describes the difference in symptoms between men and women and explains how you can protect yourself from heart disease.

    http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/287.printerview.html...

11. Tests and Diagnosis: Misdiagnosis of Heart Disease (Copyright © HeartHealthyWomen.org) — If you suspect your diagnosis of heart disease was incorrect, you might want to seek a second opinion. This publication discusses how to prevent a misdiagnosis and what to do if you think you have been misdiagnosed by a health professional.

    http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/index.php?view=article&id=114

Organizations

1.   Food and Drug Administration, HHS
2.   National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, OPHS, HHS
3.   National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
4. American Heart Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated: March 27, 2009