Heart disease is the number one killer of American men and women. So don't be lulled into a false sense of security by misinformation. Read the following to set the record straight on what your risks are and how you can lower them. True, heart disease is rare in women under age 50, but a postmenopausal woman's risk quickly equals that of a man with the same risk factors. What we do know is that the physiologic changes associated with menopause dramatically increase heart disease risk.
Women lose the protective effects of estrogen.
These changes contribute to atherosclerosis. The opposite is true, and here's why. They also have a higher mortality rate in the first year after an MI and they're more likely to have another MI in the next 5 years. Women develop heart disease 10 to 20 years later than men, at a time in their lives when they may have other health problems. Chest pain is the most common symptom of heart disease in both men and women.