Am I at Risk?
Understanding the unique risks and warning signs of heart disease in women help you to recognize the signs before an emergency. Eliminating key risks from your daily routine, healthy eating and exercise also help to reduce your risk.
Known risk factors for heart disease include age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking history, diabetes and family history of heart disease. However, there are other factors unique to women:
- Women who have high job stress have a 40 percent increase in cardiovascular disease and an 88 percent increase in heart attack risk.
- Conditions involving chronic inflammation such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis nearly double a woman's risk for heart disease.
- Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.
- Metabolic syndrome is a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high triglycerides. This has a greater impact on women than on men.
- Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
- Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels.
To learn more about the key risk factors of heart disease, or if you have any concerns about your heart health, contact our female cardiologists at (888) 314-3627 or use our Find a Doctor tool to schedule an appointment today.