Coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits form on the arteries, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients the heart receives. According to the American Medical Association , heart disease is the cause of almost one-third of all deaths in Western countries. Men are more likely to be affected than women. However, after menopause or removal of the ovaries, a woman's odds of having a heart attack increase dramatically.
Doctors suspect a decrease in estrogen is the cause.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease, such as heart pain, usually strike women later in life, However, the disease can affect women in their teens. Risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, obesity, family history, and other diseases such as diabetes. Women over thirty-five who take birth control pills are at a greater risk of coronary artery disease. The American Medical Association recommends that women who take estrogen or birth control pills have their blood pressure checked once a year. For more information, contact a health care professional.