• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Abnormal cholesterol and high triglycerides
• Tobacco use
• Diabetes and pre-diabetes
• Overweight/Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Metabolic Syndrome

• Age ( women over 55 years are at higher risk)
• Sex ( Gender) More women than men die of  a stroke
• Family history of early heart disease ( having a mother or sister who has been diagnosed with heart disease before age 65, or a father or brother diagnosed before age 55 ) or a family history of stroke.
• Ethnicity-African-American women have one-third more heart disease and twice the death rate from heart attack.

These healthy lifestyle tips can help protect your heart and decrease your risk factors from developing heart disease or a stroke:

• Get moving. Try to be active for at least  30 minutes on most days
• Don't smoke-if you smoke, stop.  Stop smoking. When you quit, your risk quickly goes down
• Be smoke free.  Breathing other people's smoke have been attributed to  heart disease and lung cancer.  Ask smokers not to smoke around you.
• Maintain a healthy weight.  Avoid saturated fats and trans fats.  Eat more fruits, vegetable, dried beans and whole grains. 
• Manage stress in your life.  Be physically active and learn relaxation skills. 
• Avoid or limit  you alcohol intake-more than 1 drink can increase your risk of heart disease
• Get your cholesterol checked; a total cholesterol level over 200 is high.  Cutting fat in your diet, physical activity and sometimes mediations can help.  Increase your  HDL " good cholesterol" and decrease you LDL " bad cholesterol"
• If  you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels within normal range.  Diabetes contributes to high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure.
• Check your blood pressure at least once a year-more often if you are instructed to do so  by your  doctor or health care provider
• Talk to your doctor or health care provider about medications you can take to help control your blood pressure and prevent a stoke:  And Remember to Take your Medications as Prescribed!!!
• Remember to make and keep  regular scheduled visits with your doctor or health care provider.

 Heart Attack Warning Signs:

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense , but most of them start slowly , with mild pain or discomfort.  Here are some of the signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest Pain or Discomfort
• Discomfort  in other areas of the upper body; this can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach or heartburn
• Shortness of breath; this may occur with or without chest discomfort
• Other signs: These may include sweating, nausea or lightheadedness

 Stroke Warning Signs

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone with you has one or more  signs of  a heart attack or a stroke, don't delay!!  Immediately call 9-1-1- or the EMS number so an ambulance ( ideally with advanced life support ) can be sent.  Also check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms  appeared.  It's very important to take immediate action. 

By loving your heart and taking early steps to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, the better outcomes you will have in the long term.  In whatever you do please take  a moment daily to love your heart.  Risk factors that can't be changed,  may be able to be controlled, modified, or reduced by working with your doctor or health care provider to create a plan that includes heart healthy diet , exercise, and medications if necessary. 

To find out more go to www.GoRedForWomen.org ( and click on Heart Checkup) to take a comprehensive evaluation of your overall heart health or by calling 1-888-MY-HEART.

For Stroke information Association ( 1-888-478-7653),  or visit StrokeAssoication.org

 For information on life after stroke, call and ask for Stroke Family Support Network. 

By knowing your numbers and assessing your risk factors you can work with your health care provider to significantly reduce your chances of getting heart disease.

Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!

Other helpful links :

diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/stroke

www.cdc.gov/dhdsp

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/hbp/hdrf.htm

www.millionhearts.hhs.gov/

www.americanheart.org

Next article: The importance of "Knowing your Numbers".