Traditionally, heart disease has been a concern for men. However, cardiovascular disease kills more women than all types of cancer combined.

A 2003 American Heart Association study of over 1,000 women revealed the lack of understanding women have of the dangers of heart disease and stroke. According to the results, 13 percent of women in America believe that heart disease and stroke are the greatest health threat to women. This reveals the lack of knowledge and understanding a majority of women have for their most serious health threat.

Since women are usually the caregivers in a home, it is easy for them to put their health last on a list of priorities. However, it is important for wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends to take care of themselves if they are to take care of the people they love.

As in any endeavor, it is important to make educate ourselves. Here are some startling statistics about women and cardiovascular diseases:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) ranks first among all disease categories in hospital discharges for women.

• Nearly 39 percent of all female deaths in America occur from CVD, which includes coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

• CVD is a particularly important problem among minority women. The death rate due to CVD is substantially higher in black women than in white women.

• In 2003, CVD claimed the lives of 483,842 females; cancer (all forms combined) 267,902.

• In 2003, coronary heart disease claimed the lives of 233,886 females compared with 41,566 lives from breast cancer and 67,894 from lung cancer.

• 38 percent of women compared with 25 percent of men will die within one year after a heart attack.

Diagnosis of heart disease presents a greater challenge in women than in men. Vicki Hatfield, a nurse practitioner with William-son Family Care Center, says there are several factors involved.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

“Symptoms are often different when a woman has a heart attack than when a man does,” Hatfield said. “With men, you get the classic ‘crushing chest pain’. But women complain of stomach problems, fatigue and pain between the shoulder blades.”

Women have not been taught to look for these signs of a heart attack, Hatfield went on to say.

“Women will wait longer to seek treatment,” she said. “Women are often tired, often have stomach pain, so we pay little attention to these symptoms.”

Learn the signs and remember to have your heart checked whether you think it’s a heart attack or not. Minutes matter, so fast action can save lives. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 911.