At midlife, women's risk of heart disease increases. That's one of the primary messages of the Heart Truth campaign. It's important to talk to your doctor about your particular risk factors. Here, courtesy of the Heart Truth web site, is a list of questions you should be asking:
· What is my risk of heart disease?
· What is my blood pressure? What do those numbers mean and is there anything I should about it?
· What are my cholesterol numbers? (These should include your total cholesterol, LDL or bad cholesterol, HDL or good cholesterol and tryglycerides.) What do these numbers mean and what should I do about them?
· What is my Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist measurement? How do these affect my heart disease risk? Do I need to lose weight?
· What is my blood sugar level? Does it mean I am at risk for diabetes?
· What other screening tests do I need?
· How much exercise do I need to protect my heart?
· How should I change my diet to protect my heart?
· What are the signs of a heart attack?
If you are a smoker, you can also ask your doctor for help in quitting. If you need to learn more about healthy eating, your doctor can recommend a nutritionist.
