Do you know the signs of heart disease? Many of you may be thinking, “Of course!” If you immediately pictured a man clutching the left side of his chest and falling to the ground, you’re right on the money. However, there is a lot more you need to know.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, about 610,000 people die of heart disease every year. Heart disease can strike anyone from any walk of life, but specific medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put certain people at a higher risk. These include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use

The signs of heart disease can vary between men and women. Some women who have heart disease show no symptoms at all, and may not even realize they have a serious health problem until they shows signs of a heart attack, heart failure, or arrythmia. Other women and men will show signs of heart disease. It’s important to be able to identify these symptoms when you have them in order to reduce your risk of suffering a serious complication, or even death.

Here are a few signs of heart disease to watch out for.

1. This is a term commonly used to describe chest pain or discomfort when your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood. In men, angina often feels like pressure or squeezing in the chest. Women, on the other hand, tend to describe a sharp chest pain and are more likely to experience pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen, or back.
2. Heart attack. Heart attacks can cause upper body pain and discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach. Lightheadedness and dizziness are other common signs of a heart attack. Men are more likely than women to report breaking out in a cold sweat and feeling pain in their left arm during a heart attack.
3. Heart failure. Heart failure causes shortness of breath and fatigue that seems to get worse with physical exertion. Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck are also common signs of heart failure. Despite its name, heart failure doesn’t mean your heart has stopped working. It does, however, indicate that your heart can’t keep up with the demands of your everyday activities, and that it’s time to visit your doctor to make some lifestyle changes.

1. An arrythmia is an abnormal heartbeat, which could mean your heart is beating too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Signs of arrythmia include a fluttering feeling in your chest, a racing heartbeat, a slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting. Some arrythmias can cause your heart to stop beating. This condition causes loss of consciousness and death if it’s not treated immediately.