THE FACTS: In every year since 1984, heart disease has killed more females than males. Heart disease kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and all other cancers COMBINED!
Most heart attacks do not result in sudden, painless (or slow and painful) death. Most victims survive, go on to have a second heart attack, or become increasingly debilitated by congestive heart failure.

RISK FACTORS: Three Risk Factors you can’t change:
AGE: Four out of five deaths occur in people over 65.
GENDER: Men have more, and earlier, heart attacks.
HEREDITY: Risk is higher in children of parents with heart disease, and in African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Asian-Americans.

RISK FACTORS: Six risk factors that you can change to save your life:
SMOKING: Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death. STOP.
BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure increases the heart workload, causing it to enlarge and weaken.
BLOOD SUGAR: Two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart or blood vessel disease.
CHOLESTEROL: Age, gender, heredity, and diet determine cholesterol levels that, when elevated, increase the risk of heart disease.
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY: Exercise can help lower cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight. As a result, regular moderate exercise lowers the risk of heart attack.
TOXIC STRESS : increases chances of heart disease, managing stress would be life saving.

WHAT TO DO? Quit smoking! Control blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol. Exercise and manage stress.