If you haven't already, ask your doctor to screen you for heart disease at your next routine appointment. It's best to start routine screenings in your 20s, although it's never too late to start.

A protein found in blood that signals artery inflammation, CRP may predict heart disease in women even better than cholesterol tests do, according to a November 2002 study at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston. While this blood test isn't yet part of standard heart screening, it's available from most doctors and accepted by many insurance plans.

Have your cholesterol checked every five years, ideally starting at age 20. This test tracks your total cholesterol (which should be under 200), triglycerides (200 or lower, with 150 to 199 borderline high), "bad cholesterol" LDL (less than 160 mg/dL, with 130 to 159 borderline high) and "good cholesterol" HDL (above 45; 60 or more lowers risk). The latest thinking is that even borderline-high cholesterol or triglycerides should be treated with lifestyle changes or, in some cases, medication.

Have it checked annually. Previously, blood pressure below 140/90 was considered normal. Under new guidelines, people with pressure between 120 and 139 systolic (the top number in the reading) or 80 and 89 diastolic (bottom number) are considered to have "prehypertension" and should make lifestyle changes. Those with blood pressure of 160/100 or higher are usually put on medication.

Have your blood glucose checked every three years starting at age 45, or earlier and more often if you have a family history of diabetes. Diabetes is a particular risk factor for women, increasing heart-attack danger three to seven times. Diabetes is defined as a blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL, while readings of 110 to 125 are considered elevated and raise risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

If you have many risk factors or are experiencing symptoms, there are more advanced screening tests you may ask about, including electrocardiogram (EKG), stress tests, echocardiography (ultrasound), angiography (X-ray and cardiac catheterization), or heart scans using electron beam tomography (EBT).