Their heart attacks tend to be more damaging and more likely to reoccur, and they typically fare less well than men who have bypass surgery. It' not totally clear why the scales seem so tipped against older women when it comes to heart disease. One theory is that because women experience heart disease at a later age than men do, they usually have more health problems in general. In addition, their vessels are stiffer and they tend to have a higher incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure by the time they develop symptoms of heart disease. Because women tend to develop heart disease later than men do, they also have a longer exposure to high cholesterol and a thicker buildup of cholesterol plaque in their vessels.
Experts say making lifestyle changes can be critical.
Women who smoke should stop, because smoking is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Also, women who smoke while taking birth control pills are at very high risk of developing blood clots and stroke. Watching the overall fat in your diet is also important, particularly if you have high cholesterol or a family history of it. Obesity puts you at greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all of which contribute to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease. Finally, exercise is an excellent way to keep your heart healthy.