You might not have known this, but as many women die from heart disease as from all cancers combined. Women are far more likely to die after a heart attack than men, even though the risk of developing heart disease is slightly lower. One in three men and one in four women are at risk of heart disease before the age of 65.

The experience of heart disease also differs between men and women. The warning signs for a heart attack for women are less evident and women are therefore more likely to ignore these signs. Even though the symptoms vary from woman to woman, they tend not to be the classic ones such as tightness in the chest, discomfort and pain.

• Uneasy feeling in the chest
• Abdominal pain
• Fluttering heart beat and unexplained anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swollen feet

Heart attack symptoms in men

• Uneasy feeling in the chest
• Abdominal pain
• Fluttering heart beat and unexplained anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swollen feet

Most people automatically associate cholesterol with heart disease. Although cholesterol has been portrayed as the Darth Vader to our arteries and heart, cholesterol is also vitally important for building our cell membranes and many of our hormones. If levels drop too low, we are at an increased risk of developing depression.

Stress needs to be managed and smoking is a definite ‘no-no’. Moderate caffeine and alcohol intake of no more than two drinks per day. Use less salt. A high salt intake can lead to raised blood pressure. Also avoid processed foods that often have a high salt content. Oestrogen is thought to play a protective role against heart disease in women, but levels decline with menopause.

Small changes can make a huge impact

While genes, age and gender do play a role in your level of risk, according to the Heart Foundation, cardiovascular disease is ‘a disease of lifestyle’. Adopting a healthier lifestyle can dramatically help to prevent heart disease.

You can start by following a healthy diet that is low in fat and high in fibre. Eat at least five servings of fruit and green leafy vegetables daily. Saturated fats, found mainly in animal foods, raise your blood cholesterol and lead to weight gain. Replace the ‘bad’ fats in your diet with ‘good’ fats such as olive oil and try to include oily fish like salmon and sardines in your diet, two to three times per week. Oily fish contains omega 3 fatty acids which are useful in preventing heart disease.

Regular exercise can significantly reduce heart disease in women. One of the best forms of exercise is walking. Walk for at least 30 minutes four-to-five times a week. Exercise also helps to reduce your risk of diabetes, it reduces blood pressure, cholesterol levels, regulates your weight, relieves stress and generally improves your sense of well being.

• Blood pressure – the ideal reading is 120/80 depending on age.
• Cholesterol – the ideal reading for total cholesterol should be under 5mmol/l. A reading over 7mmol/l could indicate a need for medication.
• Blood Sugar – a normal reading is 3,3 – 5,9mmol/l.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – is a good idea for postmenopausal women and men over 40. If you have three or more risk factors above, speak to your doctor about getting tested earlier.

What to do if you think you’re having a heart attack!

1. Call an ambulance or get someone to drive you to the hospital.
2. Take an aspirin – research shows that taking an aspirin when symptoms start significantly increases your chances of surviving a heart attack. Aspirins thin the blood and prevent clotting. It is not recommended if you have high blood pressure, if you are already taking blood thinning drugs, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
3. Get immediate treatment – a heart attack causes the most damage in the first two hours. Hospitals offer special procedures that can help limit the damage. For example, defibrillators can help restore normal heart rhythm and reperfusion therapy will increase the flow of blood to the heart.