She presented these important and possible lifesaving facts. More women than men die from cardiovascular disease. Fifty-three percent of heart attack deaths are women. Seventy percent of women and sixty-seven percent of primary care physicians believe heart disease occurs primarily in men. The signs of heart attack are the same for men and women.
Women begin to have heart attacks about ten years later than men.
Occurrence of heart attack increases after menopause. 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.