Last year, almost 4500 women died from heart attacks and strokes making it the number 1 killer of women in Ireland.
The Irish Heart Foundation have issued a red alert warning in order for women to get their blood pressure checked regularly.
Although many women fear breast cancer and there is a stereotype that heart disease targets men more, women are six times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and stroke than breast cancer.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart attack in women more than it does in men. Cigarettes also increase the risk in women more than men as women metabolise nicotine faster then men.
About one third of women in Ireland die from cardiovascular disease.
Taking preventable measures like getting blood pressure checked regularly and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce a persons risk greatly.