Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States – it kills more women than AIDS, lung disease, cancers and traffic accidents combined. Studies show that one in five women will die of heart disease – so how can they control the risks for heart disease to prevent it?

Common Risks for Heart Disease

While heart disease can be genetic, it can also develop as a result of certain lifestyles. One of the most powerful tools women can use to fight heart disease is an awareness of their own risk. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do you have a history of heart disease in your family?
• Could certain foods be contributing to poor heart health?
• Are you exercising regularly and properly?
• Do you experience high blood pressure?
• Are you overweight or obese?
• Do you have high cholesterol?
• Do you smoke?

PROACTIVELY PROTECT YOUR HEART

If the answer is yes to any of these questions and you’re age 30 or older, you should consider a heart screening. Regardless of how a risk develops, Arkansas Heart Hospital’s Keep the Beat program builds a complete profile of a patient’s heart health and what their risk factors may be. The program even goes beyond identifying risks and helps patients become proactive in protecting their heart health through extensive, detailed testing, nutrition counseling and more. And best of all – Keep the Beat takes only an hour to complete.

Heart disease can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Symptoms of heart disease are different in women than men, and simply being aware of their risks for heart disease puts women a step ahead in living a healthier life. So schedule a Keep the Beat screening for you and your loved ones today.