From the Guidelines
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among all women globally, accounting for approximately one in every five female deaths, with coronary artery disease being the most common type. According to the most recent study 1, heart disease accounts for nearly one death every minute, with more women dying from heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined. Women often experience different symptoms than men, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in the neck, jaw, or upper back, rather than the classic chest pain. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and family history. Prevention strategies include:
- Maintaining a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, while limiting sodium, saturated fats, and processed foods
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly)
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Managing stress Women should have regular health screenings starting at age 20, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose checks. Medications such as statins, antihypertensives, or aspirin may be prescribed based on individual risk factors. Women should be particularly vigilant about heart health after menopause when the protective effects of estrogen decline, as stated in the study 1. The American Heart Association and other leading health organizations recommend a comprehensive approach to preventing heart disease in women, including lifestyle changes and medical interventions, as outlined in the study 1.
From the Research
Leading Cause of Death in Women
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in United States women, accounting for approximately 500,000 deaths annually 2.
- Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, responsible for one of every six deaths per year 3.
- Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among all women combined in the United States by a narrow margin, although cancer predominantly kills middle-aged and young women, whereas heart disease predominantly kills the very old 4.
Comparison with Cancer
- Among women aged 15 years and older, there were 289,467 heart disease deaths and 276,716 cancer deaths in 2013 4.
- Cancer mortality was significantly higher than heart disease mortality among women younger than 80 years of age, for all racial and ethnic groups except Black non-Hispanic women 4.
- Cancer is already the overall leading cause of death for Hispanic women, Asian and Pacific Islander women, and American Indian and Alaska Native women 4.
Prevention and Risk Reduction
- Statin medications can reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and prevent heart disease 5.
- Interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality from coronary artery disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population are examined, with attention given to the role of cardiovascular disease in older women and in minorities 6.