However, the reality is that almost twice as many women die from heart disease and stroke as from all forms of cancer combined. This lack of awareness adds to women's risk because they are less likely to control risk factors. After a heart attack, women are even more vulnerable.
Several factors make women vulnerable.
Since, as a group, women live longer, they are older, which is a risk factor. In addition, research also shows that women are more vulnerable to the complications associated with the treatments for their attacks. Sometimes this causes physicians to recommend less aggressive treatment for women who have a heart attack. Most women also are unaware that heart disease does not strike all women equally. Diagnosing a heart attack presents an additional challenge.