Diet, exercise, smoking and blood pressure have long been linked with risk of heart disease, but a new study is the first to show these factors are greater in women than men. Researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto presented findings of their study to the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. The data confirms that both men and women showed an elevated risk of heart disease from the list of risk. Researchers also found women tend to have better health than men, but the combination of negative risk factors has a bigger impact on women. The findings suggest taking into consideration gender when screening could give a more accurate picture of cardiovascular risk and better motivate people to adopt heart-healthy habits.