An estimated 42 million American women live with cardiovascular disease, but too many are unaware of the threat they face.  All too often, women don't know the warning signs.  Below are 5 facts you need to know so you can begin to improve your heart health today:

1)  Heart disease affects women of ALL ages.  In fact, 35.3% of deaths in American women over the age of 20, or more than 432,000, are caused by cardiovascular disease each year.  It is the leading cause of death of American women, with more than 200,000 women dying each year from attacks - five times as many women as breast cancer.  It's a myth that estrogen makes women heart-attack-proof, because even young women can have heart attacks.

2)  Heart disease affects more women than men.  More women than men die from heart disease each year.  One reason?  Women are less likely than men to receive appropriate treatment after a heart attack, or even know the symptoms.

3)  Chest pain is still the most common symptom when having a heart attack, though not everyone experiences it.  Although a heart attack without chest pain is a bit more common in women than in men, chest pain is still the most common symptom of a heart attack for women and men.  Typical chest pain is a squeezing pain, fullness or heaviness in the chest. Women are slightly more likely than men to experience atypical chest pain, which may be burning or sharp and of a shorter duration.

4)  9 out of 10 heart disease patients have at least one risk factor. Several medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put women at a higher risk for heart disease, including: high cholesterol; high blood pressure; diabetes; cigarette smoking; overweight and obesity; physical inactivity and alcohol use.

5)  Heart disease is preventable. There are plenty of things you can do to control your risk of getting heart disease.  Start by quitting smoking or using tobacco of any kind.  Get plenty of exercise and maintain a healthy weight.  Limit your alcohol and always practice good nutrition.  Read labels, and stay away from "saturated fat" and anything that contains "partially-hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" fats. These products are usually loaded with unhealthy fats. All of these tips are key to controlling some of your heart disease risk factors and can make a difference in your overall health.

According to MSNBC, your metabolism slows at a rate of 5 percent for each decade after you hit the age of 40. If you are over 40, you are going to have to work harder to lose 10 pounds quickly than you did in your 20s and 30s. Eating a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise can help you to lose weight quickly as you get older. Before you make any changes to your diet and exercise plan, speak to your doctor.

Step 1

Follow a reduced calorie diet. You must burn 3,500 calories to lose one pound of fat. To lose weight quickly, take off at least 500 calories from your daily caloric intake. Track the calories in all food items that you eat in a diet journal. Avoid high calorie foods with little nutritional value, such as cookies, candies, chips, soft drinks and pastries. Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fiber to keep your body regular.

Step 2

Exercise for 60 minutes or more daily. You should spend 60 minutes most days of the week participating in some form of moderate-intensity exercise. Examples of activities are jogging, swimming, basketball, soccer and cycling. Besides set workout times, you can burn more calories and lose weight quicker by changing your daily habits. Take walks at lunchtime, use the stairs instead of the elevator and park as far away as possible from the entrance in parking lots.

Step 3

Eliminate Bedtime Snacks. People who eat at night gain 19 pounds more per year than people who don't do any nighttime snacking; this is due, in part, to the fact that late-night eaters typically show less discretion when it comes to the type and amount of food they eat. Stop eating at least three hours before bedtime to help drop 10 pounds. If nighttime munching is usually done out of boredom, try taking a bath, giving yourself a manicure, leafing through a magazine or even heading to bed early to curb eating.

Step 4

Eat lean protein sources and control portion sizes. Eat plenty of lean protein to boost your metabolism and lose more weight. At each meal, consume one serving of a lean protein, such as fish, skinless chicken and turkey breast. Controlling your portion sizes is a virtually painless way to cut hundreds of extra calories from your diet. Instead of eliminating your favorite foods, just eat smaller portions and you could lose 10 pounds. Vow to stop eating foods straight from the package, and put them in small bowls or plastic baggies before eating in order to avoid taking in multiple servings. As a rule, avoid eating snack servings any larger than your fist.

Step 5

Weigh yourself daily. When you've overindulged or your pants are suddenly tight, it's easier to just avoid stepping on the scale. But weighing yourself every day can actually help you lose weight because it keeps you accountable for changes in your weight. It also means you can take steps to reverse weight gain before it snowballs into an extra 10, 15 or 20 pounds.

Source: LiveStrong