What You Must Know About Heart Disease

Here are some lifesaving facts about the number one killer of women.

Each year some 88,000 women ages 45 to 64 have a heart attack -- which is why knowing how to protect yourself is crucial. It's time to separate the rumors from the facts about this deadly disease -- and lower your risk now.

True or False?

The telltale sign of a heart attack is crushing pain in your chest.

False. Up to 70 percent of female heart attack victims experience no chest pain at all. More common symptoms include nausea or vomiting; cold sweats; shortness of breath; a heartburnlike pain; light-headedness or fainting; and pain in the jaw, throat, back or arm that won't go away. You may also notice unusual fatigue and have problems sleeping. "If routine things like climbing the stairs now take you twice as long to do or leave you out of breath, see your doctor," says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, M.D., author of The Women's Healthy Heart Program.

True or False?

Body Mass Index is the best way to predict whether you'll have a heart attack.

False. Waist-to-hip ratio may be a better gauge, says a recent study published in the journal Lancet. To find out your ratio, divide your waist measurement in inches by your hip measurement. For women, 0.85 or above means you're at risk of having a heart attack. The higher the number, the higher the risk.

True or False?

Drinking alcohol can help lower your risk.

True -- but only in moderation. Having one alcoholic beverage a day (12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine or 1 oz. of liquor) can decrease your heart disease risk by up to 40 percent. Why that's so: Alcohol is thought to slightly increase good cholesterol, and it also contains resveratrol, a substance that helps prevent blood clots. (Teetotalers, take heart: You can get similar benefits by drinking red or purple grape juice.) For optimum health, choose red wine; it's high in flavonoids, antioxidants that protect heart cells from damage. Warning: Drinking more than what's recommended can raise blood pressure.

True or False?

An aspirin a day keeps a heart attack away.

False. Aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack for those who've already had one, but it doesn't do much to prevent first-time attacks.

True or False?

If a product is labeled "heart-healthy," it will improve your heart health.

False. As long as manufacturers don't claim that a food prevents or treats a specific disease or condition, phrases such as "heart-healthy" or "heart-smart" can pop up anywhere, says Bonnie Liebman, R.D., director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC. "However, if a food touts an ability to lower cholesterol or fight heart disease, the claim is backed by good evidence and has been approved by the FDA." Yoplait's Heart Healthy Yogurt, Benecol margarine and Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars all contain plant sterols, extracts that inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the body. Aim for 0.8 g of sterols each day -- about two (6 oz.) yogurts, 1 tbsp. of Benecol or two granola bars.

True or False?

A little chocolate helps your heart.

True -- but only dark chocolate. It's rich in flavonoids, which also lower blood pressure. "It's still best for your health -- and waistline -- to have chocolate only as a treat and instead choose healthier flavonoid-rich snacks such as apples, raspberries or green tea," says Goldberg.

True or False?

Not catching enough z's can harm your heart.

True. Women who sleep five hours or less a night are 30 percent more likely to have heart disease, according to research from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. But snoozing more than nine hours often can be a bad sign, too. The connection: Insomniacs are often tense, while oversleepers tend to be depressed. These psychological stressors have been linked to high blood pressure and higher levels of cholesterol, insulin and cortisol (a stress hormone), says Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic in Rochester, MN. Have sleep issues? Talk to your doctor so you -- and your heart -- can rest easier.

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.



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