Loss of estrogen appears to be a significant contributor to women developing heart disease after menopause. Quite the opposite. The death rate for African-American females from coronary heart disease is more than 35 percent higher than the rate for white females. Death rate from stroke is 71 percent higher for African-American females than for Caucasian females. Today 23.5 million American women smoke.
Smoking is the greatest single preventable cause of death.
For women, smoking is the biggest preventable risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Women who smoke have more than twice the heart attack risk as nonsmoking women. Many of the risks for cardiovascular diseases are controllable through healthy life habits. If women take control of their lives and choose habits that promote heart health, they can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Coronary heart disease is a major risk factor for stroke.