women's heart health assessment
• Risk Factors
• Different Symptoms for Heart Attack
• Pregnancy and Heart Disease
• Tips
• Make an Appointment

Risk Factors

Heart disease kills more women than cancer

Women and men have the same risk factors for heart disease. Women tend to develop heart disease later than men and are more likely to have heart attacks compared to men of the same age.

Before menopause, women's natural estrogen helps them to avoid heart disease. Estrogen lowers cholesterol levels and seems to improve their arteries' flexibility and ability to expand. After menopause, however, heart disease kills more women than breast cancer by a 10-1 ratio.

What's your risk for heart disease?

The most common risk factors for heart disease are:

• Age
  Being 55 and older is a heart disease risk factor.
• Diabetes
  Diabetes cancels the protective effects of estrogen in women before they reach menopause.
• Family History
  Changing your behavior can help overcome a genetic tendency for heart disease.
• Cholesterol Levels
  Women should get their cholesterol checked every five years between the ages of 20 and 50. After age 50, or if risk factors are present, your physician will help you determine how often to check your cholesterol.
• High blood pressure
  Over time, high blood pressure can damage the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys and blood vessels.
• Obesity
  Women who have more fat around the waist are at greater risk than those whose fat is located more around the hips.
• Smoking
  The more you smoke, the greater your chances of developing heart disease.