Heart Disease and Women

Pictures & Images

See all Pictures & Images

Description

Mention the term "heart attack" and most people imagine a pudgy, middle-aged man drenched in sweat and clutching his chest. Ask a woman what she fears most and chances are good she'll reply "breast cancer."

Few patients seem to consider cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a "woman's disease."

But in fact, heart disease kills more women each year than the next 14 causes of death combined. Approximately 250,000 American women will die from a heart attack this year. Yet only a handful of women believe that heart attack and stroke are their greatest health threat.

The misleading notion that heart disease is not a real problem for women can be blamed in part on medical research. For a very long time, heart disease studies have focused primarily on men. Changes are under way, but some doctors still fail to recognize the warning signs displayed by female patients.