When Rita Potts walked into the emergency room in 1998, she felt foolish for even being there. She was sure the nagging ache between her shoulder blades and strange feelings of apprehension didn’t merit a trip to the hospital, but at the insistence of her husband had asked a neighbor to drive her there. Within hours, doctors performed an emergency angioplasty procedure to hold open a blocked artery in her heart. After several months undergoing treatment to strengthen her heart at a Heart Failure clinic Rita still lacks the strength and vitality she previously enjoyed, but she has a new appreciation for life.

 Unfortunately, stories like Rita’s are all too common. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 65, killing 4 to 6 times more American women than breast cancer every year, and one in five women have some form of cardiovascular disease. Women are also less likely to survive a heart attack than men. Many women don’t recognize a heart attack when it happens and don’t seek help in time because their symptoms can seem atypical. Although women over 65 should be most concerned, women of all ages can be at risk for this silent killer. Know your risk factor and what you can do to prevent or minimize the problems associated with heart disease, and learn to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack.

 What is cardiovascular disease?

 Cardiovascular disease (commonly known as heart disease) occurs when plaques (cholesterol, fatty substances, and other waste material from cells) collect in the arteries. This causes blood pressure to rise, and as a result the heart has a difficult time getting enough oxygen into the bloodstream. When enough plaque accumulates, a total or near total blockage of the arteries can cause a heart attack. A heart attack may feel different for a woman than it does for a man, so it’s important to know the warning signs.