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Cardiovascular diseases affect women more than men

by Susan Sims Barger, FNP
Family Medicine
One of the enduring half-truths about cardiovascular disease (CVD) is that heart disease is a man’s disease. The fact is, cardiovascular diseases are devastating to women, too.

So says the American Heart Association publication of 2000 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update.

Men suffer heart attacks an average of 10 years earlier in life than women do, so men are at higher risk at younger ages. But as women approach the age of menopause, their risk of heart disease and stroke begins to rise and steadily rises with age.

In terms of total deaths, in every year since 1984, CVD has claimed the lives of more females than males. And the gap between male and female deaths continues to widen, as the graph below shows. As the gap widens, deaths from CVD in men decline, the number of deaths in women has risen over the last 20 years.

The harsh fact is that cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 killer of women and men. These diseases currently claim the lives of more than half a million females every year — more lives than the next 14 causes of death combined. 

That’s about a death a minute.

Recent surveys show that most women are for more afraid of breast cancer than of cardiovascular diseases (even though one in 28 women die from breast cancer while almost one in two is from CVD). Breast cancer is unquestionably a serious disease, but it should not overshadow the very real risk of cardiovascular diseases. If women underestimate their risk of heart disease and stroke, they may not take the steps necessary to reduce their risk of these deadly—and often preventable—diseases.

The risk factors of high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity and overweight are particular problems for women. In addition, diabetes is a more potent contributing risk factor in women than in men. If women have diabetes before menopause, it increases their risk to the same level as men. Smoking  and hypertension are other serious problems that increase the risk of CVD.

Women must recognize the seriousness of cardiovascular diseases. If they don’t take the steps to reduce their risk, the tragic and needless suffering these diseases cause will only grow worse.

It is important to have regular screenings with your healthcare  provider to identify if you are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. With proper lifestyle modification and medications, if necessary, you can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

For more biostatistical information, check out the websites  at <http://www.americanheart.org> and <http://www.StrokeAssociation.org>.