Women aged 65 and above should take low dose aspirin routinely to prevent heart attack and paralysis.

1. All women should exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day, but women who need to lose weight or maintain weight loss are now advised to engage in 60 to 90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, or preferably, all days of the week.
2. A heart-healthy diet should be rich in fruits, whole grains and fiber foods with a limited intake of alcohol and sodium.
3. Saturated fat should be reduced to less than 7 percent of calories.
4. Women at very high risk for heart disease should try to lower their LDL ("bad") cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL.
5. Women aged 65 and above should consider taking low-dose aspirin on a routine basis, regardless of their risk. Aspirin has been shown to prevent both heart attacks and stroke in this age group.
6. The maximum dose of aspirin for high-risk women is 325 mg per day.
7. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) or antioxidant supplements such as vitamins C and E should be avoided as means to prevent heart disease.
8. Folic acid should also not be used to prevent cardiovascular disease.
9. Women should eat oily fish or some other source of omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week.
10. Women should not only quit smoking but should use counseling, nicotine replacement or other forms of smoking cessation therapy.