That's more than the next 14 causes of death combined. Although coronary heart disease strikes men on average a decade sooner than women, the risk begins to rise as women approach menopause and continues to increase steadily with age. Although women have first heart attacks at later ages, they are more likely to die from them. Many women also don't realize that stroke is as serious a problem for them as it is for men. Risk factors of particular concern for women include elevated blood cholesterol, which affects a higher percentage of women over age 49 than men, physical inactivity and smoking.
Obesity is also a significant risk factor for both women and men, as is diabetes.
In fact, if a woman develops diabetes before menopause, it greatly reduces her lower-risk advantage compared to a man. Although smoking has dropped by about 42 percent among adults since 1965, that decline has leveled off. Smoking is on the increase among U.S. teenagers, and it is expected to increase significantly worldwide in the coming century. Despite extensive information concerning the benefits of regular physical activity for preventing heart disease and stroke, only 22 percent of all U.S. adults report regular, sustained physical activity of any intensity lasting 30 minutes or more five times a week. The American Heart Association recently identified obesity and being overweight as a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.