By age 70-90 the risk for heart attack among women equals that of men. Although men have more heart attacks than women do and they tend to have them at an earlier age, after menopause more women than men die from heart attacks. Family History . Both men and women are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke if their immediate blood relatives have had them. Tobacco use .
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for women and heart disease.
Women who smoke cigarettes have a profoundly greater risk of death from heart disease and stroke. One to four cigarettes a day may double a women's risk for heart disease, a half pack or more triples the risk. Taking oral contraceptives and smoking increases the risk of heart attack and stroke many times. High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, heart and kidney disease. More than 60 percent of women over age 65 have hypertension.