People joke that they’re from another planet and, in honor of National Heart Month, I decided to find out how different their hearts were, too. (Let’s say I had a hunch, considering the only tear I ever saw a BFB shed over a movie was when Frodo disappeared at the end of The Lord of the Rings saga). To get to the bottom of things, I asked Barbara Roberts, MD, FACC, director of the Women’s Cardiac Center at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI, and author of How to Keep From Breaking Your Heart: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Cardiovascular Disease, if she could set the record straight—and while I had her attention I asked her what else us girls can do to show our tickers some TLC. Her answers were so interesting! Get this: High levels of triglycerides, aka fat in our blood, put women at a greater risk for heart disease than when levels are elevated in men. And did you know we should all be getting our cholesterol checked yearly once we hit 20 or that women are more likely to have a “silent” heart attack or that smoking puts us at a higher risk of diabetes than it does boys? Do you know your numbers?? Check out Dr. Roberts thoughts below—and let me know if you have any other Qs! Thanks so much for talking with us, Dr. Roberts! Our hearts thank you! Continue Reading →

February is National Heart Month, a perfect month to think a little bit more closely about that beating muscle in our chests. It’s truly the epicenter of our life and love and works so very hard to keep us upright and breathing. So because of this — and because one in four American women still die from heart disease and because of all of the BFBs who would cry big, fat tears and be lost without us — we’ll be chatting about what we can do (and not do) to take care of our tickers so they take care of us for many years to come.

So send me your comments and your questions: What do you want to know most about your heart? When should you start getting your cholesterol checked and what’s the difference between LDL or HDL — in terms you can actually understand? How much fat is too much and how much exercise do you really need to keep that thumper thumping strong? Does it matter if you’re on the pill? And what about him? Do the same rules apply or is a guy’s heart different?

Ask away and check back over the next few weeks for answers. ☺