Despite popular belief, heart disease doesn’t affect just men. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the past decade, cardiovascular disease killed about the same number of women as it did men. What’s even more frightening is that nearly two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease had no previous symptoms.
“Aside from lower rates of exercise and physical fitness in menopausal-aged women compared to men, and the nonmodifiable risk factor of age, a major component of heart disease risk associated with menopause is related to hormones,” notes Sandra Weiss, M.D., F.A.C.C., an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the cardiac intensive care unit at ChristianaCare. “After menopause, when circulating estrogen and progesterone decline, that hormonal protection wanes, causing the arteries to become stiff and narrow.” Women then see what Weiss calls a “catch-up” of cardiovascular events compared to men.
Women are also more likely to see a rise in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and diabetes after menopause, Weiss notes. Oftentimes they struggle to maintain a healthy weight, particularly around the waist, and abdominal fat carries a higher risk compared to weight centered around other parts of the body. All of these factors lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death among postmenopausal women.
To lower the odds of developing heart disease, Weiss suggests adopting the following lifestyle habits:
- Don’t smoke.
- Stay physically active.
- Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.
- Get enough sleep.
- Keep cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose under control.
