A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease Surveys show that few
women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat.
Unfortunately, it's the nation's number one killer, and women
are its prime target. Over one-third of the women who die in the
U.S. each year die of heart disease. In fact, more women die of
heart disease each year than breast cancer. The risk of heart
attack and stroke increases with age, especially after
menopause. It is important to note, however, that
atherosclerosis, or plaque build up in the arteries which can
lead to heart and strokes, is a progressive disease that can
begin as early as your teens and 20s. That's why it's important
to start protecting yourself from heart disease early. Check
your risk First, you should get your blood cholesterol and blood
pressure checked. The higher either of them is, the greater your
risk for heart disease or heart attack. A cholesterol
(lipoprotein) profile, a blood test done after a 9- to 12-hour
fast, will measure the fats in your blood to i