Are you heart smart?

If you want to be heart healthy, you have to be heart smart. So test your knowledge by answering true or false to the following statements. Then check the answers below to see how well you did.

1. Eating tofu can help reduce your risk for heart disease.
2. A coronary artery spasm is a harmless muscle cramp of your heart.
3. Women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack. 
4. If you take medication for high blood pressure, you should avoid over-the-counter cold and flu relievers.

Answers:

1. True. Adding tofu and other soy protein foods to your diet can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. Aim for at least 25 grams of soy protein or about two 4-ounce servings of firm tofu a day.

2. False. A coronary artery spasm occurs when one of the arteries leading to the heart constricts, reducing or stopping blood flow to the heart. The spasm causes chest pain or discomfort, typically occurs while at rest rather than during exertion and can lead to a heart attack. A spasm can occur in a normal artery or one partially blocked by fatty deposits.

3. True. Within one year after a heart attack, 38 percent of women will die compared with 25 percent of men.

4. True. Many of these products contain decongestants, which can raise blood pressure or interfere with blood pressure medication. Always ask your doctor if a product is safe for you.