With life expectancy on the rise, women now can expect to live to age 80. In this case, a woman will spend one-third of her life after menopause and without benefit of the natural production of the hormone estrogen. Since estrogen protects a woman's heart and bones, after menopause, older women face increased risks for heart disease and osteoporosis.
Women are also at high risk for breast cancer and depression.
Today, the medical community knows more than ever about women's health risks and can provide better treatment with medication and technology. However, for medical practices to be effective, women themselves must play a major role in their own health care and take whatever steps they can to prevent these diseases from striking them. The following is an overview of information on osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer and depression that can help women make informed decisions about their own health. A Serious Threat for Older Women Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, taking more lives than the next 16 leading causes of death combined. For most women, the risk increases with menopause.