Why Do Women Ignore Heart Disease Risks?

The American Heart Association has pointed out that most women ignore heart disease risks.

Since symptoms are different for women than men, women need to learn to recognize female-specific symptoms of heart disease.

While heart disease is the number-one killer of women in the U.S., almost two-thirds of women who die of heart disease have no previous symptoms. Women experience more varied and less obvious symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD). Many of the tests do not consider the cardiovascular differences between women and men, and these tests often yield higher rates of inaccuracies or false positives.

There is a three-pronged approach to women's heart health:

1. Get educated about heart disease. Learn the signs and symptoms.
2. Get heart healthy. Exercise, follow a healthy diet, and know your genetic risk factors.
3. Get tested. Technology can help identify and rule out CAD.

Cardiologist Dr. Annette Volgman shares how women can be smart with their heart health.