The facts: Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the number one cause of death in women–it kills more women than the next seven causes of death combined, nearly twice as many women every year than all forms of cancer combined. According the American Heart Association, one in 2.5 women will die from cardiovascular diseases–one in 30 will die from breast cancer. And that risk increases for women as they age. Each year, about 372,000 women aged 65 and older have a heart attack. The average age for a woman to have her first heart attack is 70–and women are more likely than men to die within a few weeks of a heart attack.

As you age, your heart needs all the help it can get. Heart disease only worsens as you age, which means that if you haven’t taken care of your heart before, it’s even more important to do so now. Whatever your past, now that you’re aging you need to take extra care of your heart. That means remaining active, quitting smoking and eating a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet. But that also means being aware of the risks and symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease and educating yourself.

Click below to read about related topics.

Introduction
A Healthy Heart
Cardiovascular Disease
Understanding the Risks
Interpreting the Numbers
Steps You Can Take Today
On the Road to a Healthy Heart