Heart disease and cancer affect both men and women, but the symptoms, risk factors and most common types can differ significantly. Knowing your own risks — and the screenings that apply to you — is one of the most effective ways to protect your health.

Screening recommendations change as research evolves, so use this overview as a starting point for a conversation with your health care provider.

1. Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Many people picture a heart attack as crushing chest pain and tingling in the left arm, but symptoms can vary — and women are more likely than men to experience less obvious signs.

Common heart attack symptoms in women include:

• Chest pain, pressure or discomfort (though it isn't always present)
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the jaw, neck, back or arms
• Nausea or vomiting
• Unusual fatigue
• Lightheadedness or cold sweats

Warning signs can also appear well in advance. A 2003 study in the journal Circulation of 515 women who had a heart attack found that most noticed new symptoms in the weeks beforehand — most often unusual fatigue, sleep problems and shortness of breath.

Women tend to develop heart disease later than men, often after age 55, and risk rises with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco use. Because plaque can build silently, some women choose a coronary calcium scan to measure it directly.

2. Breast Cancer

Apart from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Risk increases with age, and some women face higher risk because of family history or inherited gene changes. Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report changes promptly. Current guidelines generally recommend regular mammograms starting in the 40s; women at high risk may also need breast MRI. A provider can help set the right schedule.

3. Colorectal Cancer

Risk is higher for women with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or with inflammatory bowel disease. Excess weight, a diet high in red and processed meats, smoking and inactivity also raise risk. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps, and finding and removing them can prevent cancer altogether. The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk begin screening at 45. Options include colonoscopy, stool-based tests and CT colonography, also called virtual colonoscopy.

4. Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus and is most common after 55. Risk factors include estrogen therapy without progesterone, tamoxifen use, early first periods, late menopause, infertility, not having children, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome and a family history of Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer). A Pap test does not screen for endometrial cancer, so report unusual bleeding or spotting — especially after menopause — to a provider.

5. Lung Cancer

Smoking is linked to roughly 80% of lung cancer deaths, but people who have never smoked can also develop the disease. Current guidelines recommend yearly low-dose CT screening for many adults ages 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history. Discuss the benefits and limits of screening with your provider; more about lung imaging is on the lung scan page.

6. Cervical Cancer

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. Smoking, a weakened immune system and lack of regular screening raise risk. Screening with HPV testing, Pap tests or both can find changes before they become cancer, and the HPV vaccine helps prevent infection. Most guidelines recommend screening from age 25 or 21 through 65, depending on the test used; some women need more frequent testing.

7. Skin Cancer

Anyone can get skin cancer. Fair skin, light hair, a family history of melanoma and blistering sunburns in childhood all increase risk. Most skin cancers can be prevented by limiting UV exposure: seek shade at midday, wear hats, long sleeves and sunglasses, use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and avoid tanning beds. Watch your moles and spots and report changes promptly.

8. Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer risk rises with age and is higher in women with a family history of ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer, or inherited mutations such as BRCA. Other factors include never having children and estrogen-only hormone therapy. There's currently no reliable screening test for women at average risk, so symptoms matter. See a provider if any of the following last more than a few weeks:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary urgency or frequency

Taking Charge

Not every disease can be prevented, but healthy habits and appropriate screening go a long way. Preventive imaging can add another layer for some conditions — Advanced Body Scan, for example, offers preventive scans for heart disease, several cancers and the colon — but it doesn't replace mammograms, Pap/HPV tests or skin exams. Regular screening over time, rather than a single test, gives the clearest picture.