How Women Can Prevent Heart Disease

As the number one killer of women in the United States, heart disease is something that all women need to learn about and take very seriously. In 2004, 460,000 U.S. women lost their lives due to heart disease. This is often called the silent killer because so many women do not have symptoms until it is too late. This is why preventative efforts are so critical. Preventative efforts are things that all women can start right now to protect their hearts, and ultimately, their lives.

Put the Cigarettes Away

You know that cigarettes are not good for you and you have heard for years about how they increase your risk of lung cancer, however, they also do a lot of damage to your heart. Smoking leads to blood clotting easier and high blood pressure. Both of these can result in a stroke or heart attack. The good news is that if you are smoking right now, as soon as you quit, your risk of experiencing a heart attack decreases by 50 percent.

Watch Your Waist Line

Being overweight can lead to a host of health issues, but when women are carrying a little extra around their midsection, this can get into your blood and clog your arteries. It is a red flag if your waist is larger than 30 inches in diameter. So, eat right and exercise to keep your weight in check.

Skip the Salt

Salt is an electrolyte that you need for your body to function properly, but getting too much salt can lead to big problems like high blood pressure. You should not be getting more than 1,500 milligrams per day. Most women get twice this and often more every single day. This is contributing to serious problems like heart attack. Speaking of blood pressure, do you even know what your blood pressure is? You should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year, but you can check it more frequently if you have a home blood pressure monitor which is actually quite inexpensive.

Watch Your Fats

You need fats like the healthy fats you can get from nuts and salmon, but trans fats and saturated fats should be avoided. Getting too many bad fats can lead to issues like clogged arteries. This can lead to heart attack. You should also have your cholesterol tested at least once a year at your annual physical Your total cholesterol should be under 200. You can still eat things like red meat, but aim for a cut that is lean. Also, getting plenty of healthy foods can help you in keeping your cholesterol under control.

Drink Some Wine

Yes, you read that right. One glass of wine every day has been proven to be a heart healthy choice. Now, this means one eight ounce glass of wine. Downing an entire bottle is not going to help you. Like all good things, more is usually not better. You also want to go for a red wine because this contains substances that white wines do not and these substances are what are good for your heart.