Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women, and heart disease claims about 250,000 women's lives a year. That's nearly six times greater than the number of women that die from breast cancer, according to the American Heart Association. But it doesn't have to be this way, says Marianne J. Legato, MD, a professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and the founder of the Foundation for Gender Specific Medicine. "Without a doubt, 80% of coronary disease can be prevented with proper lifestyle modifications including healthy diet and increased physical activity," says Legato, author of several books including Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget.
The best way to know where you stand is to get a blood test for total cholesterol levels, HDL "good" cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol, and blood fats known as triglycerides.
"If there is any question of extra heartbeats, chest pain, or shortness of breath, women should have a stress echocardiogram," she recommends. A stress echocardiogram is usually done to determine whether you have a significantly reduced flow of blood to your heart.
Also, your doctor should test your blood pressure, as high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, she says.
Diabetes is another risk factor for heart disease. If you have a family history of diabetes or are overweight, you are at particularly high risk of developing diabetes and you should talk to your doctor about a blood sugar test.
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