WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE

Because women lag about 10 years behind men in the development of atherosclerosis, Americans have the mistaken idea that heart disease is something women do not need to worry about.

Answer the following question: What disease kills the most women in North America? Perfect score if you answered heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including heart attack and stroke) are the leading cause of death for both men and women. Each year 2.5 million women in the United States are hospitalized for cardiovascular illness, and 500,000 women per year die from it.
If you answered breast cancer, you are not alone. Many people have the impression breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women, since the incidence of breast cancer has risen dramatically over the past 20 years. But of 2,000 postmenopausal women in the United States, 20 will get heart disease in a given year, and 12 will die from it. In comparison, six will get breast cancer, and two will die from it.

The leading cause of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, in which major arteries become progressively clogged with plaque. Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and progresses slowly throughout the years. When arteries that supply oxygen and nutrition to important organs such as the heart and brain become too clogged, life-threatening heart attacks or strokes can result. Because women lag about 10 years behind men in the development of atherosclerosis, Americans have the mistaken idea that heart disease is something women do not need to worry about.

Why worry?

Well, don't worry, because worrying may increase your risk of heart disease! But women do need to acknowledge that they are not immune from cardiovascular disease for two reasons. First of all, they need to recognize that there are many measures they can take to prevent, or at least delay, the progression of atherosclerosis. Secondly, women must not ignore chest pain and other warning signs of cardiovascular disease. Finally, women must not let family members or health care providers ignore such warning signs.