Until recently, much of the research on heart disease has been done in groups chiefly comprised of men, so information about heart disease in women is only now being addressed.
Women tend to manifest symptoms at a later age and in different ways than men.
In addition, perhaps due to lingering misconceptions, recognition and treatment of heart disease in women may not be optimally aggressive. All of these considerations mean that women need to educate themselves about heart disease and its prevention. A heart attack means that heart muscle tissue died because of an inadequate blood supply. This booklet focuses primarily on CAD, although health guidelines apply to all the cardiovascular illnesses. Arrhythmias and diseases of the electrical tissue can affect the heart beat and throw off its timing.