Sophie Blackall
In Your 40s
Prevention Find a medical ally.
"Many women in their 40s haven't had any primary care other than their ob-gyns," says Johnson. Now is the time to work with an internist on your general health. Your doctor will identify factors that may be raising your heart-disease risk, counsel you on how to lower that risk, and administer tests and medication as needed. Consider medications.
Lifestyle changes alone may still be enough to cut your risk to normal. But medication to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and manage blood sugar may be necessary, too. Don't get stuck in the middle.
"That pudge around your waist increases your heart risk," says Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Women's Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. This layer of intra-abdominal fat spikes blood pressure and cholesterol. Fortunately, a little strength training is effective at helping to stave off this type of fat.Tests Everything as in your 20s and 30s:
Blood pressure:
Annually. Body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and/or waist-to-hip ratio measurement:
Annually. Lipid panel:
By age 20; repeat annually or more often if your lipids are in an unhealthy range, or every five years if they're in a healthy range. Fasting blood glucose:
Only if you're diabetic, pregnant, or at risk for diabetes (this includes anyone with a BMI of 25 or higher; those with a family history of diabetes; and African-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics).Plus:Electrocardiogram:
In your early 40s if your risk is high. Stress test:
In your early 40s if your risk is high. Fasting blood glucose:
Every three years starting at age 45 if there are no risk factors, or more often if you are overweight or have other risk factors. For a list of tests, what they measure, and how to interpret results, see
Testing, Testing
