February always makes me think of hearts. And not just because it’s the love month.

 

My son, who was born with a congenital heart defect, was born in February. Today, as I write this, would have been his 20th birthday. My dad was only 49 when a heart attack claimed his life. I think of these two Miguels who were very dear to me. I think of love—the mother for her son, the daughter for her father.

 

It’s no wonder then why issues of the heart and heart health, whether in adults or children, is something I am very passionate about. Women’s heart health, in particular, is very close to, what else, my heart.

 

Every February in the United States, there is a huge campaign called Go Red for Women (www.Goredforwomen.org), and I’ve always wondered why we haven’t adopted it yet here.

In the perimenopausal years, and most especially when a woman goes into menopause, it becomes a level playing field for men and women when it comes to heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health for this very reason.

 

The website is chock-full of valuable information, and if you are a woman, especially if you are age 40 and above, please visit the site and learn all that you can.

 

Myths

 

Here are the top five myths that surround women and heart disease.

 

Heart disease is just for men, and cancer is the real threat for women. The reality is that heart disease strikes more women than men, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease claims the lives of one in three. That’s roughly one death each minute.

 

Heart disease is for old people. Definitely not.

 

Heart disease affects women of all ages. According to the American Heart Association, for younger women, the combination of birth-control pills and smoking boosts heart-disease risk by 20 percent. And while the risks increase with age, things like overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can cause plaque to accumulate and lead to clogged arteries later in life. But even if you lead a completely healthy lifestyle, being born with an underlying heart condition can still be a risk factor.

 

You say you’re fit, so heart disease can’t touch you. Think again.

 

The fact remains that even if you spend hours doing martial arts or regularly run marathons, your risk for heart disease isn’t completely eliminated. Factors like cholesterol, eating habits and smoking can counterbalance your healthy habits. Yes, you can be thin and have high cholesterol.

 

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that you get start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20 or earlier, more so if your family has a history of heart disease or high cholesterol readings.

 

And while you’re at it, be sure to keep an eye on your blood pressure at your next checkup.

 

Nowadays it is very easy to purchase an electronic blood pressure monitor from any of the major drugstore chains. If you have hypertension or live with any any form of heart disease, it would be best to keep one at home or whenever you travel.

 

Another myth is that women don’t think anything is wrong because they don’t have any symptoms. Unfortunately, in the US, 64 percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

 

Symptoms vary greatly between men and women, and they’re often misunderstood. Much of the information we read or hear about has conditioned women to believe that the tell-tale sign of a heart attack is extreme chest pain.

 

According to the AHA, the reality is that women are somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Other symptoms are dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, and extreme fatigue.

 

Be proactive

 

If you, like me, have a history of heart disease in your family, don’t think that all is lost, though, because it’s not. Although men and women with a family history of heart disease are at higher risk, there’s plenty we can do to dramatically reduce it. The most important step is to be proactive and to create an action plan to keep your heart healthy and, more importantly, act on it.

 

According to the Go Red For Women website, the most important things you can do for your heart are as follows:

 

If you are a smoker, quit. As in quit today, not tomorrow.

 

Exercising consistently on most days of the week for 30-60 minutes helps your heart work more efficiently.

 

Very important: Manage your stress. The body reacts to stress by releasing adrenaline (a hormone) that causes your breathing and heart rate to speed up, and your blood pressure to rise. The good news is that you can actively manage your stress way before it becomes a problem. But you must listen to the signs and signals that your body send you before it’s too late.

 

Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish and nuts; avoid red meat, as well as sugary and processed foods, and foods high in sodium. Take it from Robert Rockwell, MD, previous AHA president and co-chair of the new AHA dietary guidelines: “Eating a healthy diet is not about good foods and bad foods in isolation from the rest of your diet; it’s about the overall diet.”

 

As a woman, take charge and take care of your heart—figuratively and literally. You owe that to yourself, and to your family. It would be nice to have someone who makes your heart skip a beat (but not too much!), but you really don’t need a Sir Chief to be more careful with your heart.

 

E-mail the author at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @cathybabao.