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 | Help Prevent Your Own Heart Disease
Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of men and women in this country. But the good news is that you have the power to help prevent heart disease and heart attack. And if you've already had a heart attack, you can help prevent a second attack.
Six million Americans have some form of the illness, also known as coronary artery disease. That includes people who have heart attacks, as well as those with angina and other forms of the illness.
After menopause, women have the same high risk of heart disease as men. One in two women will die of it--partly because women's heart attack symptoms can be different from what men experience, so women may not recognize that they're having an attack.
Though you can't change some risk factors for heart disease, such as a family history of the illness, you can significantly reduce your personal risk by making simple lifestyle changes, such as eating a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains; getting 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week; maintaining a healthy weight; and not smoking.
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