Heart disease is the number one killer cause of death worldwide. 17.9 million people are estimated to die out of heart disease. The best prevention against heart disease is to take care of heart health. You probably wonder if men and women have the same risk for heart disease although at a glance, men seem to be the most affected by heart disease. Truthfully, 45% of the female population have some form of heart disease. Heart diseases kill more women compared to the combination of all forms of cancer that kills women. Thus, to say women have higher risk for heart disease than men could be a truth.
The risk for heart disease is significantly high and relatively similar to men when females reach menopause. Number of heart diseases among females and male above the age of 60 is 78.2% and 77.2% respectively. Hence, to pronounce women at a higher risk for heart diseases when compared to men is indeed right.
Unfortunately, only 56% of women acknowledge that heart diseases are the greatest danger to their health. This means that the remaining number considered that being a woman means they are less likely to get heart diseases. It is true that the oestrogen hormones do play some role in protecting females against heart diseases. Study shows that oestrogen is a heart protector towards the cause for heart diseases such as regulating blood pressure, maintaining blood vessel’s function and keeping the level of bad cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol low. This explains why the average age for the first heart attack in women is 72 years old and in men is earlier with 65 years old. This also explains that only 44% women do have heart diseases when compared to the 54% of men above the age of 20.
However, as mentioned, the number of heart diseases among females increase as they get older. This may be to blame for the low level of oestrogen hormones as women reach menopause. It is worth noting that not only age plays a role in the heart protective factor of the affected oestrogen hormones. Women that lose oestrogen before natural menopause due to surgery such as removing the uterus and/or ovaries due to medical conditions, also have higher risk for heart diseases. Studies show that occurrence of heart diseases along with other chronic conditions caused by ageing becomes accelerated when natural menopause is disrupted by such surgery.
Post-menopausal women or in menopause transition are likely to get heart disease. Apart from the low number of oestrogen, menopause itself does cause a lot of changes in a woman’s body. This includes changes to the blood vessels leading to formation of blood clot and fatty plaques inside the blood vessels’ wall becomes easier, the low number of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and increase of fat (lipid) in blood. These groups of women also have more fat packed in the abdomen and around the heart known as visceral fat. This alone leads to a risk for heart diseases. Aside from changes caused by menopause, other risk factors such as diabetes, blood pressure and obesity can ultimately increase risk for heart diseases.
In essence, women are indeed at higher risk for heart disease especially when they reach menopause. The sad truth is most women still think they will not be getting heart disease or any risk for heart disease due to the belief of the oestrogen hormones protecting them when the fact is, it is not entirely true. The low level of oestrogen certainly is not enough to be a heart protective factor. It is best for women to be alert that they too are at risk for heart diseases as they age, precisely when they reach menopause.
Most women should be having regular health check-ups to identify risk of heart diseases early. Getting early diagnosis can help women take early step on preventing the risk from becoming high. This is especially true for women who already have a history of heart diseases running in the family or themselves diagnosed with other chronic medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
Last but not least, women should understand that whenever they have heart disease symptoms, even mild ones such as chest discomfort, they should get themselves checked by doctors. Women should describe specifically what they have been feeling and take things seriously. At the very least, they should make sure to get an ECG test before leaving the doctor’s office. By doing this, women would be at ease knowing there is not something wrong happening and if there is something wrong with the heart, they are assured to get early medical care and support by healthcare professionals. This can lower the death of heart diseases in women that is currently around 1 out of 3 women each year. Ask a healthcare professional for more information on the relationship between women and heart diseases.
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