If you're a woman, don't minimize your heart problems and ignore the fact that you may be ill. It's an unfortunate fact that women don't get cardiology care on par with their male counterparts, and recent studies suggest that it may be because they don't complain enough.

While many of us come from backgrounds in which we're taught to be stoic, this doesn't work well for cardiac issues. If you minimize or stay quiet about your symptoms, you're not likely to get the level of care you need to survive. Instead, go to your cardiology clinic and complain if you need to.

While the jury's still out on the issue, a recent study indicates that napping during the day decreases the risk of cardiac illness. Research on this issue is ongoing, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on its progress and chat with the staff at your local cardiologist clinic before conking out for an hour every afternoon.