Men have a much greater chance of having a heart attack by the age of sixty than do women. Women are protected by their hormones prior to menopause. However, this does not mean that women can rule out heart diesease as a potential killer. Though their risk is much less in middle age, with the onset of menopause this advantage disappears. In fact, heart disease is the number one cause of death in older women.
Race also plays a role in heart disease.
In America, an adult black male has a much greater chance of getting high blood pressure or hypertension than an adult white male. Accordingly, black men must take additional steps to avoid this dangerous risk factor by limiting intake of salt, avoiding stress and other factors leading to hypertension. Although none of us can combat race, genetics or sex as risk factors, all of the other conditions leading to heart disease are within our control. Smoking contributes to heart disease by scarring the artery walls and thus makes it easier for fatty deposits to adhere to the inside of your arteries. Smoking one pack a day doubles the risk of a heart attack.