by Amanda Peel

Created on: July 20, 2009   Last Updated: July 21, 2009

Heart disease is a serious risk for women. Many people think that women do not get heart disease but it is the leading cause of death for women in America. Men suffer from heart attacks also but women are less likely to survive an attack and more prone to have a second attack if they are fortunate enough to survive the first.

There are different conditions involving the blood vessels and heart. They each can be congenital or slowly form over time. Most of these are preventable.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of heart attack and the most common type of heart disease. When cells, cholesterol and fat build up inside the walls of blood cells it causes them to narrow in a process called atherosclerosis. Eventually the blood flow to the heart or brain is restricted or stopped. This results in a heart attack or stroke.

Signs and symptoms in women are often very subtle. Almost two-thirds of women who suddenly die of a heart attack had no symptoms. Heart disease is often under treated or misdiagnosed among women. It is very important for you to know the signs. The main symptom is being overly tired even after getting enough sleep. Other signs include new or worsening headaches, trouble breathing, sleeping trouble and scared or nervous feelings. "Heavy" or "tight" feelings in the chest along with aches and upper body discomfort in one or both of the arms are serious symptoms that should not be ignored. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, fainting, dizziness or hotheadedness. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should make an appointment with your doctor and discuss these things with him.

You should do everything you can to take care of yourself and keep your heart healthy. First and foremost you should stop smoking and stay away from others that smoke. You should also change to a heart healthy diet that is rich in whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruit. Exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy. Just thirty minutes a day is all that it takes. You can also incorporate yoga, deep breathing and meditating into your life to manage stress. If you are over weight you need to lose the excess weight. The exercise, yoga and healthy diet will help you with that and keep your heart in top shape.

For more information on women's heart health visit:

http://womenheart.org

www.hearthealthywomen.org/

www.goredforwomen.org

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