1. Young women are having more heart attacks. A recent study found that women are having more heart attacks at a younger age. Women also experience symptoms different than males.

      2. You may not have obvious symptoms of a heart attack. In younger women, symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and back or jaw pain — not chest pain that is commonly associated with a heart attack.

      3. Do you have a risk factor? 90 percent of women do, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or genetic predisposition.

      4. Heart disease is the number one killer of women. One in 31 women will die of breast cancer, but one in three women will die of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.

     The good news is that you CAN help prevent heart disease with exercise and a healthy diet plan.

     2. Eat at least 3 fiber rich whole grains a day.

     3. Keep sodium intake at less than 1500mg a day.

     4. Reduce sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages.

     5. Enjoy at least 4 servings of nuts, legumes and seeds a week.

     6. No more than 2 servings a week of processed meats.

     7. Keep saturated fat to less than 7 percent of total energy intake.

     Want more information? Friend NutriCat on Facebook. Have a risk factor? Make an appointment with Alex Caspero, the campus dietitian to discuss your diet. Call 946- 2315, ext. 1 or go online @ My Health at Pacific.

Published in : Lifestyles, Volume 104: Issue 22