By age sixty-five the risk of heart attack is equal for men and women. The risk is increased if the woman smokes, takes oral contraceptives, or is diabetic. Obesity and lack of exercise add to the risk. Women make more office visits, but are given fewer additional tests. Women have fewer procedures, such as surgery.
Surgery is more difficult for women because their arteries are thirty percent smaller.
Women receive less medication than men. The health of women with coronary heart disease gets worse after a heart attack, while the health of men improves. Many of these women have other chronic diseases. Lose weight, stop smoking, and exercise. This will make arteries more flexible and raise HDL levels.