Heart disease is a serious risk for women, too. Twice as many women die from heart disease each year as from all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer. For a variety of reasons, women are actually more likely to die or have serious complications from a heart attack. In addition to the heart disease risk factors that women share with men, such as high blood pressure and excessive stress, there are some risk factors that are particular to women. For example, a woman's risk of heart disease can be raised by birth control pills.
Women are also at greater risk for heart disease after menopause or hysterectomy.
Back to top Race African-Americans are at significantly greater risk for heart disease than white Americans. Blacks tend to develop high blood pressure at an earlier age and it tends to be more severe than in whites. Hispanic-Americans have similar statistical risk for heart disease as white Americans. Heart disease is the cause of one of every four deaths for Hispanic males, and one out of every three deaths for Hispanic females. If you have a family member who has or had heart disease or a stroke, you are more likely to develop heart disease.