If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Getting more exercise, practicing mindfulness and connecting with others in support groups are some ways to tame stress. Stress can cause the arteries to tighten, which can increase the risk of heart disease, particularly coronary microvascular disease. Ask your health care provider what weight is best for you. If you're overweight, losing even a few pounds can lower heart disease risks.

Exercise and maintain a healthy weight.Avoid saturated or trans fats, added sugars, and high amounts of salt. Opt for whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean meats. Try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, which also can damage blood vessels. Living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Women under age 65 - especially those with a family history of heart disease - also need to pay close attention to heart disease risk factors. Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously.

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory conditions may increase the risk of heart disease in both men and women. This appears to be a greater risk factor in women than in men.

Family history of early heart disease.

These conditions also make women more likely to get heart disease. High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase the mother's long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. Low levels of estrogen after menopause increase the risk of developing disease in smaller blood vessels. A lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease. Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men. Depression may make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment for other health conditions. Stress and depression affect women's hearts more than men's. Also, because diabetes can change the way women feel pain, there's an increased risk of having a silent heart attack - without symptoms. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than are men with diabetes. Women are more likely than men to have a heart attack with no severe blockage in an artery (nonobstructive coronary artery disease). This might be because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries but also in the smaller ones that supply blood to the heart - a condition called small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.Д¬ompared with men, women tend to have symptoms more often when resting, or even when asleep Emotional stress can play a role in triggering heart attack symptoms in women.Д«ecause women's heart attack symptoms can differ from men's, women might be diagnosed less often with heart disease than are men. These symptoms may be vague and not as noticeable as the crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks.

Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly (abdomen) discomfort.

Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as:

Blocked ears and heart pro