Cardiovascular disease is very common in women. The warning signals of heart attack include:

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

4. Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

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

1. Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort.

2. Shortness of breath.

3. Pain in one or both arms.

4. Nausea or vomiting.

5. Sweating.

6. Lightheadedness or dizziness.

7. Unusual fatigue.

In presence of any of the above one should not wait for more than five minutes and get to a hospital right away.

More than 80% of cardiac events in women can be prevented by modifying diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.