• HeartImage by Flickr.com, courtesy of THOR
  
  

Metabolic Syndrome

• The size of your waist can greatly impact your risk for a heart attack. The fat stored in your abdomen combined with high numbers for blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides significantly increase the risk in women.
  
  

Stress

• Often referred to as "broken heart syndrome," stress, anxiety and depression cause an increase in blood pressure, overworking the heart as well as often leading to an unhealthy lifestyle.
  
  

Smoking

• Smoking not only causes premature aging and cancer, it affects hormones and can cause disease in places other than in the lungs.
  
  

Estrogen

• Low hormone levels decrease the natural ability to stabilize your body. Women who have gone through menopause and have lowered estrogen levels have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease in their small blood vessels.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Regular doctor visits and early detection are crucial to finding out if something is amiss. Women tend to care for others first and neglect themselves, and many have no clue something might be wrong with them.
  
  

Prevention

• Proper exercise, diet, stress control, and quitting smoking not only help you live healthier, they help you live happier.