Some of these you can't control, such as increasing age, family health history, and race and gender. But you can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk. The chances of developing heart disease increase as women grow older. As women approach the age of menopause, their risk of heart disease and stroke begins to rise and keeps rising with age. The loss of natural estrogen as women age may contribute to this higher risk after menopause.
Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life.
Overall, the incidence and prevalence of stroke are about equal for men and women. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women. Race is also a factor. Black women have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than white women - in large part because African Americans have higher average blood pressure levels. Compared with whites, African-American men and women are more likely to die of stroke.