Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Approximately 1 in 3 women die each year due to heart attack or stroke. Nearly twice as many women die of heart disease or stroke, than they do of any form of cancer, including breast cancer.

Women are less likely than men to seek medical attention when having a heart attack. For this reason it is important to know the warning signs and symptoms and what to do in the event you feel you are having a heart attack.

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

Shortness of breath, often without any chest pain

Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, clamminess or cold sweats

Unexplained fatigue, weakness or dizziness

Pain in the chest, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw

Feelings of anxiety, loss of appetite, discomfort.

If you notice one or more of these warning signs, don't wait more than a few minutes. Do not wait longer than 5 minutes. Call 911 right away!!

If you are driving in your car at the time, it is imperative that you pull the car over as soon as possible. You could lose consciousness at any moment.

If you have any available and you have no known allergies to aspirin, chew 1 regular tablet of aspirin while you wait for medical help to arrive.

Here are some tips on how you can avoid having a heart attack.

Quit smoking

Eat a healthy diet and cut back on foods high in saturated fats and sodium.

Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Exercise regularly. This may sound difficult if you're not one who exercises but start out slowly. A brisk walk 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

Lose weight if you are overweight.

Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension.

A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and eating right could help decrease your risk of heart disease and heart attack and increase your longevity.