Heart disease risk greater in women

Heart disease affects women and men in different ways, but women are at a bigger risk than many realise.

According to the Heart Foundation of Australia, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. In fact, coronary heart disease claims 5 times as many womens lives as breast cancer.

One reason many women are not aware of this fact is that cardiovascular disease tends to strike women later in life. Men tend to have heart attacks at earlier ages.

It has been suggested that while oestrogen may give some protection to women in their early years, after menopause the level of oestrogen falls and increases the risk of women developing heart disease.

Risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Physical inactivity
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Being overweight
• Depression, social isolation and lack of social support

 Remember: Your risk of developing heart disease is greater if you expose yourself to multiple risk factors. See your GP for ongoing heart assessment and follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Source: Heart Foundation of Australia http://www.heartfoundation.com.au/index.cfm?page=297