You may think heart disease only affects men. This is not true. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, says the United States Food and Drug Administration, outlining tips to help you make good decisions about your heart health.

Eat a heart healthy diet. The nutrition facts on the food label can help you make healthy food choices. Choose foods that are ‘low salt’ or ‘low sodium’. Limit foods that have ‘trans fat’: too much of it can cause heart attacks. Cut back on sugar, also labelled as ‘glucose’, ‘fructose’, ‘sucrose’, and ‘corn syrup’.

Common health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. Take your medicines as directed. Do not stop taking your medicines until your doctor says that it is OK. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar level. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol tested.

Get the facts about aspirin. Daily use of aspirin to prevent heart attacks or a stroke is not right for everyone. Ask your healthcare provider if you should use aspirin. If aspirin is right for you, find out how much you should take, how often you should take it, how long you should take aspirin. Some products combine aspirin with other ingredients (supplements, herbs) and are not meant for long-term use.

Know the signs of a heart attack. The signs of a heart attack can be different for women than they are for men. Chest pain (heavy ache or pressure). Pain in your upper body (arms, neck, jaw, back or upper stomach). Shortness of breath, Breaking out in a cold sweat, unusual or unexplained tiredness, feeling dizzy or light-headed and feeling sick to your stomach (nausea).

Source: USFDA

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