Heart disease kills more women than any other illness; about half a million women in the United States die of cardiovascular disease every year.

Before menopause, women have a lower risk of heart disease than do men of their age - an advantage that scientists generally attribute to high estrogen levels. After menopause, when women produce less and less estrogen, her risk of heart attack rises and continues to do so with age; older women are actually more likely to have heart attacks than are older men. But that statistic may change in the near future.

Doctors are beginning to understand other ways in which a woman’s heart differs from that of a man. When a woman has a heart attack, for example, she doesn’t always feel a crushing chest pain; rather she is more likely to have subtler symptoms such abdominal, throat or back pain, nausea or shortness of breath.

The growing awareness of this gender gap has also led physicians to give their heart patients more appropriate care. More attention is paid to atypical chest related complaints in the emergency room. Smaller bodies mean smaller hearts so balloons for angioplasty and repair valves are made in proportion to womens’ bodies.

When it comes to prevention, the news is uncomplicated: Women have an enormous influence over the health of their own hearts. According to a Harvard study, women who walk briskly - three or more miles per hour - three hours per week can reduce their risk of heart disease as much as 40%. Women who walk five hours per week cut their risk in half. Women who eat a bowl of high fiber cereal a day cut their risk by 37%.

Modifying other risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol also has enormous benefit. Last but never least: If you smoke, you know what to do !

When did you last have a check up to talk about your risk for heart disease? Schedule a visit soon to maximize your health.