While it is not common for young women to have heart attacks, measures can be taken to prevent future ones.Katy Hamtak, an exercise physiologist at the Ohio State University Medical Center, explained the symptoms and risk factors of heart disease for women to a small group of women at the OSU Center for Wellness and Prevention Wednesday.A common belief is that breast cancer is a major cause of death among women, Hamtak said. Heart disease is actually the primary killer.The symptoms of a heart attack differ between men and women, she said. Both genders usually experience shortness of breath, but women commonly have heart attacks during times of mental stress. Men usually have heart attacks during physical stress.Because women usually do not realize they are experiencing a heart attack, it takes them an average of 13 hours to seek medical treatment after an actual heart attack begins, Hamtak said.There are two types of risk factors involved with heart disease, Hamtak said. The first, non-modifiable risk factors, are age, gender, and family history. Modifiable risk factors are cholesterol, control of diabetes, and smoking.There are two types of cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, Hamtak said. The level of women’s high-density lipoprotein averages about 45. If the level goes above 60, the risk factor can actually be canceled out.Low-density lipoprotein is the bad cholesterol, she said. This cholesterol carries fat and should be less than 130.Hamtak recommends eating a significant amount of high fiber foods, including three to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Women should exercise at least three times a week. Most importantly, she said, was good communication with a doctor.”Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your doctor,” she said. “If you can’t communicate with them, you may want to change doctors.”