I didn’t realize that headaches and muscles spasms might be symptoms of cardiac arrest. And neither does the majority of Canadian women aged 40 and over, according to a new Leger marketing survey, released today by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC).

Survey respondents also failed to link high cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, only one-in-ten women surveyed knew their personal LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels, versus the more than six-in-ten women (64 per cent) who know how much they weighed in high school! (Uh, guilty as charged.)

Heart disease and stroke kill one-third of women, and women are more likely than men to die of a heart attack or stroke. But it’s never too late to take action to protect your heart and vascular system, says Dr. Nahid Azad, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa and a member of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC). The first step, she says, is knowing all your vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking.

Brush up on your cardiac knowledge—like me!—with our heart disease primer.

Be sure to pick up the summer issue of Best Health magazine, too, for heart-healthy grilling ideas.

What's your favourite heart-healthy recipe?