It may come as a surprise to many women that coronary heart disease – not breast cancer – is the No. 1 killer of American women. “Women think that cancer is the bigger threat to their health than heart disease,” says Thuy Lee, M.D., an Electrophysiologist with the Orange County Institute for Heart and Vascular Care at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center (FVRH). “Cardiovascular disease [CVD] claims nearly twice as many women than all cancer deaths combined.”

The good news: women can take steps to protect their health. “There are risk factors, but there is a lot that can be done to prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke,” explains Dr. Lee. “It starts with learning all you can about your risk factors and then working to reduce those risks.”

The big contributors to heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and age. While you can’t change heredity or age, you can make lifestyle changes to decrease your risk for the disease. More than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. By quitting, you significantly reduce your risk. Losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes and other contributors to heart disease.

“It’s important to see your doctor regularly—at least once a year. Sometimes diet and exercise alone can’t change blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Your doctor can prescribe medication that can help,” said Dr. Lee. “But equally important is to know what to do if you do have an attack.” If you or someone you know
exhibits signs of a heart attack or stroke, call 911.