What is heart disease?
Heart disease is any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart. There are multiple types of heart disease, which are typically categorized into four groups:
- Coronary artery disease, which is due to buildup of plaque inside the arteries (atherosclerosis).
- Heart failure, which is most commonly caused by high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart attack.
- Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), which cause the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly, or in a disorganized fashion.
- Structural heart disease, which refers to abnormalities of the heart’s structure, including valves, walls, or muscles.
How many women in the United States have heart disease?
Among women 20 years and older, nearly 45% have some form of cardiovascular disease. Women over 60 are more likely than men to have hypertension, yet less likely to have it under control.2 Also, hypertension is more closely linked with heart attacks in women vs. men.3 1 in 3 women will develop heart disease at some point in their lifetime, compared with 1 in 8 who will get breast cancer.4
How deadly is heart disease for women?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., and is responsible for about 1 in every 5 female deaths.5 Many women don't know that heart disease is 7x deadlier than breast cancer,6 and that nearly 52% of high blood pressure deaths7 — otherwise known as hypertension or the “silent killer” — are in women. And while heart disease is often thought of as primarily a men’s health issue, since 1984 more women have died each year from heart disease than men.8 Overall, heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.9
What is the financial impact of heart disease?
Cardiovascular disease is the most expensive chronic disease in the U.S. with an overall price tag of about $363 billion each year. 10
What are common causes of heart disease in women?
It’s important to be aware of what can increase women’s risk for heart disease and stroke in order to begin to take steps to reduce risk. Some of the top risk factors include:11
- Hypertension
- Low level of HDL cholesterol (a.k.a. “good cholesterol”), or a high level of LDL cholesterol (a.k.a. “bad cholesterol”)
- Diabetes
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
- Family history
- Obesity
There are some common risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol that affect men and women. However, many people may not be aware that there are some risk factors that have sex-based differences that can put women at a higher risk, or that are unique to women.
View this infographic to see the differences in risk factors.
Learn more about high blood pressure and high cholesterol in women.
