8 Things You Never Knew About Heart Disease

When you think of heart disease, you probably picture an overweight, middle-aged man clutching his chest and falling to the floor. But the truth is, heart disease can also come in the form of a young, fit woman experiencing jaw pain, or no symptoms at all. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet surprisingly, only 54 percent of women are aware of this, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Heart disease has traditionally been thought of as a man’s disease, with most studies and research done on men’s hearts,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, M.D., cardiologist and director of women’s heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. “In reality, heart disease kills one in three women each year.” 

Here’s what every woman needs to know about heart disease: