Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular disease isn’t a male disease. While it’s true that men are at greater risk of heart attack than women, a significant number of women are also affected by heart disease. In fact, the leading cause of death in American women is coronary heart disease. Approximately half a million women die of heart disease each year in our country.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke

Every day, you make choices in your life that affect your risk for developing heart disease, particularly as you grow older. There are several factors, both controllable and non-controllable, that can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Non-controllable risk factors for women include the following:

• Age. Women’s risk of heart disease and stroke increases as they age. If you are 55 years or older, you are at greater risk for heart disease or stroke.
• Family History. Women are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke if they have close blood relatives who have had heart disease or stroke.
• Race. African-American women are at greater risk of heart disease and stroke than white women.
• Previous Heart Attack or Stroke. According to the American Heart Association, 22 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 69 who survive a first heart attack will have another heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease within five years, and 22 percent of women in the same age range who survive a first stroke will have a second stroke within five years.
• History of Pre-Eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes, or Delivery of Low Birth-Weight Baby. If you have ever had pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes while you were pregnant, or if you’ve ever delivered a low birth-weight baby, you are at greater risk of heart disease and stroke.

Risk factors for heart disease and stroke that are in your power to treat and control include the following:

• Smoking. Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease among women. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also increase one’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Moreover, women who smoke and take birth control pills are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke than nonsmokers who take birth control pills.
• High blood pressure. Your risk for developing high blood pressure increases if you are obese, pregnant, have reached menopause, take birth control pills, or have a family history of high blood pressure. African-American women are also at greater risk for developing high blood pressure than white women.
• High blood cholesterol. Studies show that women have higher blood cholesterol than men from age 55 onwards.
• Obesity. If you are overweight or obese, you’re at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, especially if a lot of excess fat is located in your waist area.
• Diabetes mellitus. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than adults who don’t have diabetes.
• Physical inactivity. Statistics show that inactive women are twice as likely to develop heart disease as active women.

As a woman, it’s important that you make an effort to treat and control the above risk factors. You are in the driver’s seat of your life, so only you can take ownership of your lifestyle and start making healthier choices that will decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke.

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