In most families, it's the woman who tends to stay informed about Health topics. She uses the Internet, reads the magazine articles, watches the TV news segments and takes the kids to see the doctor. But women seem to be bypassing much-needed information about their own health when it comes to matters of the heart. While breast cancer tops the list of women's health fears, cardiovascular disease actually kills double the number of American women killed by all cancers, according to the American Heart Association. The news gets worse. A survey by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that most women don't rate their risk of heart disease nearly as high as statistics reveal it to be. Women generally develop heart disease five to 10 years later than men. Maybe it's this spared-until-later factor that has so many women believing they are safe from the risks of heart disease. Women might perceive themselves at lower risk, but if they have the typical heart disease risk factors being overweight, smoking, having a family history of heart disease, (having) an abnormal cholesterol profile they have to realize that they have as much a chance of having a heart attack as a man does." Women can do a lot to prevent heart attacks. For starters, click on our 12 heart-healthy tips a dozen roses to learn more about disease and women, and how to lower risks. And if you know a woman who would benefit from these tips, click here to send a dozen roses.  |