MICHIGAN CITY | Even as they care for husbands suffering from heart disease, women tend to overlook symptoms in themselves.

"Women don't think they're going to have heart problems until it happens to them," said Dr. Joseph Rosenblum, a cardiologist with the LaPorte Regional Health System and one of a half-dozen speakers at the hospital-sponsored women's health fair Tuesday.

Only about 30 percent of women identified heart disease as a leading cause of death among women in a 1997 survey, Rosenblum said.

Nearly a decade later, in 2005, that percentage had risen to 57 percent -- an improvement but still not good enough, Rosenblum said.

He urged the more than 25 women in his presentation to know their risk factors and to take measures to control them.

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity and being overweight, as well as having a family history of heart disease.

The information is especially important in Indiana, where nearly 23 percent of women smoke and nearly 56 percent are overweight, Rosenblum said.

The health fair at the Blue Chip Conference Center attracted more than 1,000 attendees in its seventh year, sponsors said.

Women at the fair lined up for free screenings for blood sugar and bone density levels, blood pressure and colorectal cancer.

Julie Richter, of LaPorte, said her bone density screening came out "perfect."

Much of what Rosenblum said hit home for Karin Bauchrowitz, of LaPorte, who came to the health fair for information.

"Women really need to take care of themselves," Bauchrowitz said. "We have to stay strong."

Linda Hirsch, of Michigan City, said she didn't come to the fair just for medical information.

"It's a good way to learn things about yourself," said Hirsch, who came with her friend, Leslie Biggs, also of Michigan City. "But it's also a fun girls' day out."