While many women may focus solely on breast cancer as a top health concern, Doctors warn that heart disease is something that is an even bigger risk to your health. Heart disease strikes nearly 1 in 3 women during their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 women who will get breast cancer.  February is American Heart Month and health experts at Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS Illinois hospitals encourage everyone to consider risk factors for heart disease. 

Some heart disease risk factors to be aware of include being 55 or older or postmenopausal, having high blood pressure or have high cholesterol, having diabetes, having a family history of early heart disease, being overweight, and making unhealthy lifestyle choices.  If you are postmenopausal you will see a decline in estrogen which offers women some heart protection.  High blood pressure can damage arteries in the heart.  Having high cholesterol can also clog arteries in the heart triggering a heart attack.  

Four ways to protect your heart are to carve out time for some exercise, eat more heart-healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight, and if you do smoke, try to quit. 

To learn more about the doctors of Prairie, call 888-4PRAIRIE or visit www.prairieheart.org.