According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women. Although heart disease is thought to be more common among men, experts report that it is the cause of 1 in 5 fatal cases in women. Most women between the ages of 40 and 60 have at least one or more factors that increase their risk for cardiovascular disease. Postmenopause, as well as early menstruation, are uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease that are specific to women. However, many others can be avoided. In 95% of more severe cases of the disease, patients have at least one risk factor – smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, obesity, lack of physical activity and diabetes. Although some risk factors for cardiovascular disease cannot be controlled, such as age, family history, menstruation and menopause, there are some that can be regulated. How to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases? 1. Stop smoking. Smokers have up to six times the risk of heart attack compared to non-smokers. In the US, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and risk of serious illness. Women who smoke a lot of cigarettes should consult a specialist doctor and perform regular lung screening for lung cancer. 2. A healthy diet A healthy diet includes eating red meats as well as lots of fruits and vegetables. It is important that the amount of food taken is sufficient to supply the body with sufficient energy. For this reason, strict diets are not recommended. 3. Regular physical activity Scientists recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, light cycling, and cleaning, or 75 minutes of high-intensity physical activity, such as hiking, jogging, and brisk cycling, per week. 4. Take time to rest Negative emotions and stress could damage the heart. For this reason, taking enough time, for example 15-20 minutes a day, to rest or engage in a favorite hobby is of great importance in lowering stress and the risk of illness. References: https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/articles/the-top-5-womens-health-concerns-for-womens-health-day