A GUIDE TO HEART DISEASE AND STROKE IN WOMEN
- by Sduehring
Table of Contents
Despite common misconceptions, cardiovascular disease is not limited to men. Although men have a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, a substantial number of women also suffer from heart disease. Coronary heart disease is the primary cause of death among American women. In 2021, heart disease claimed the lives of 20% of women in the United States. It’s not just the number of women who die from heart disease that is concerning. It’s also the fact that, in many cases, women are more likely than men to experience complications as a result of their condition.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke
Your daily life choices invariably play a role in determining the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, especially with advancing age. There exist various determinants, some modifiable and some unmodifiable, that could heighten your susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents. Unmodifiable risk elements for females consist of:
- Aging. As women grow older, their susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents correspondingly escalates. Women aged 55 and over face a heightened risk for these health issues.
- Genetic Predisposition. The chances of a woman developing cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular accidents increase if they have immediate family members who have experienced these conditions.
- Ethnicity. African-American women are more prone to cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents compared to their white counterparts.
- Past Instances of Heart Attack or Stroke. As per the American Heart Association, 20% of women who survive an initial heart attack are likely to experience another heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease within the next five years. Similarly, 22% of women within the same age group who survive a first stroke are likely to experience another stroke within five years.
- History of Pre-Eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, or Low Birth-Weight Baby Delivery. Women who have experienced pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The same applies to women who have given birth to a low birth-weight baby. Their risk for cerebrovascular accidents also increases.
Risk factors that are in your power to treat and control include the following:
- Diabetes: The likelihood of developing heart disease is higher in women with diabetes compared to men with the same condition. Diabetes can also alter how women perceive pain, leading to a greater risk of experiencing a heart attack without noticeable symptoms.
- Emotional stress and depression: These conditions have a more significant impact on women’s heart health compared to men’s. Depression could impede one’s ability to sustain a healthy lifestyle or adhere to prescribed treatment plans for other medical conditions.
- Smoking: Women who smoke are at a higher risk of developing heart disease than men who do the same.
- Physical inactivity: Sedentary behavior is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
- Menopause: The decrease in estrogen levels following menopause can heighten the risk of disease in smaller blood vessels.
- Pregnancy complications: Experiencing high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can elevate a woman’s future risk of hypertension and diabetes. This, in turn, can heighten the possibility of developing heart disease.
- Family history of early heart disease: This risk factor seems to be more significant in women than in men.
- Inflammatory diseases: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory diseases could increase the risk of heart disease in both genders.
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