Overview Of Women And Coronary Artery Disease
Approximately 1 in 4 women will die from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States. In both men and women, the most common cause of heart disease is the hardening of the coronary arteries. A buildup of plaque causes narrowing of the arteries or the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Blood flow to the heart slows down or stops as a result. This phenomenon is known as coronary artery disease (CAD). It is markedly the major reason why people have heart attacks. Coronary artery disease (CAD) happens slowly over time.
Heart diseases that affect women more so than men include:
- Coronary microvascular disease – a problem affecting the heart’s tiny arteries.
- Broken heart syndrome – extreme emotional stress leading to severe but usually short-term heart muscle failure.
Women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. Symptoms may be very obvious in some cases, but absent in others. It is important to see a medical professional on a regular basis, especially if the woman is high-risk. Some risk factors for heart disease cannot change, but others can.
The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. However, there are also steps she can take to help prevent it. Eating a heart-healthy diet is a good place to start. She may also be referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program to help improve her heart’s fitness.
A medical professional may recommend taking one or more medicines to treat blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. Follow all directions and recommendations closely to stop coronary artery disease (CAD) from getting worse. Treatment will depend on symptoms and how severe the disease is.
Commonly Associated With
Heart disease, Coronary heart disease, Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD
