You may go for your routine cervical smears and mammograms, but do you think about your heart health too? Coronary heart disease kills twice as many women in the UK as breast cancer, and it’s the single biggest killer of women worldwide. Yet it’s often considered to be a problem.

According to a British Heart Foundation report in October 2019, an average of 65 women die from coronary heart disease each day in the UK, most commonly due to a heart attack. Women don’t always realize they have a higher risk of heart disease, don’t always recognize the signs of a heart attack and often delay getting help. This is costing women’s lives.

You can’t change some of your risk factors, such as your family history or ethnic background. But it’s good to be aware of them. If you have African or African Caribbean heritage, for example, you may be more prone to having high blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. And there’s some evidence that the risk of having heart disease is up to 50 percent higher in South Asians (who are more likely to store excess fat around their waistline) compared to white Europeans.

“If you have heart disease in your family, consult your GP, who can advise on ways to reduce your risk of developing the condition through a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” says Dr Brian Clapp, consultant cardiologist for The Cardiac Clinic at London Bridge Hospital. “It is better to be aware of any inherited conditions as early as possible to better prevent problems occurring later in life.”