• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Find a Specialty
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Pay a Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Gettyimages 928771152

Do Women Need to Worry About Heart Health?

Feb 14, 2021 |
By Salima Qamruddin, MD, MPH
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Let's begin with a very unsettling statistic. Heart attacks kill about six times as many women each year as breast cancer. As a whole, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, accounting for roughly 1 in 5 female deaths.

So why do most women worry about breast cancer more than they worry about heart disease? Both are deadly, but there is much less awareness among women about the danger posed by heart disease.

One of the most critical misconceptions about our hearts is that men are more susceptible to heart problems than women. This is simply not the case. While heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, it is a health issue that doesn't discriminate by sex. Women tend to be older than men by about 10 years when they first present heart disease symptoms. Two-thirds of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. And about 1 in 16 women over the age of 20 have coronary heart disease, which is the most common heart disease type.

It's time to put a spotlight on women's heart health and focus on defensive strategies. Here, we will cover what heart disease is and suggestions that women should adopt to stay healthy.

What is heart disease, anyway?

While it's easy to think of heart disease as a single issue, it is a broad term that includes heart rhythm issues, heart attack, coronary disease and others. There are different types of heart disease and separate problems that cause it.

For example, heart rhythm disorder or heart arrhythmia is a form of heart disease where there is a problem with the heartbeat's rhythm. It can be caused by a congenital heart defect present at birth or something we play a role in, like smoking, stress or taking certain substances or medicines. Heart failure is a severe form of heart disease that occurs after the heart has been weakened. High blood pressure and heart attacks are the two most common causes of heart failure.

As a woman, what can I do to reduce my chances of developing heart disease?

The good news for both men and women is that everyone can take specific controllable steps to manage their heart disease risk. Up to 80% percent of heart attacks can be prevented by controlling modifiable risk factors.

Patients can control their heart health include exercising the following valuable pieces of advice.

  • Understand and modify your risk of heart disease. We can't change some heart disease risk factors like increasing age and family history. But we can modify other risk factors with lifestyle changes or medication. These modifiable risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, smoking and diabetes. High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can also increase your risk.
  • Get screened. Talk to your primary care physician about your heart health. Essential screenings for monitoring heart health include blood pressure tests, blood sugar (also known as blood glucose) tests and a fasting lipoprotein profile to test cholesterol. These diagnostic tests can help determine your long-term risk and identify possible lifestyle changes to reduce your future risk of developing heart disease.
  • Move around and exercise. Exercising regularly is key to keeping your heart healthy. The American Heart Association recommends a weekly exercise goal of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity. One easy trick is to aim to exercise thirty minutes a day, five times a week. Wearable tracking devices that log your progress or vibrate when you've been sitting too long can help keep you on track. Joining a group exercise class can also help motivate you.
  • Eat healthfully. Make smart choices about the types of foods you eat. Instead of sugary snacks, reach for fruits, vegetables, poultry, whole grains and dairy. Avoid sauces and dressings, which can be full of hidden sugars and calories.
  • Understand the role that menopause plays in heart disease. Studies show that a woman's risk of a heart attack increases about 10 years after menopause. It's thought that a decline in the natural hormone estrogen may be a factor. Hence, regular screening is important.

Take the first steps toward a healthy heart. Visit ochsner.org/heartmonth

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Oct. 23, 2018. 

Tags
heart health
screenings
ochsnerlsu

You may also be interested in:

Heart disease common myths
Conditions & Treatment
December 28, 2021

Common Heart Disease Myths

Heart disease myths range from who is most vulnerable, what you can and can’t do in terms of exercise and eating and what a heart attack looks and feels like.
By William Bennett, MD, PhD
Thinkstockphotos 546200434 Men Women Heart Attack Symptoms
Conditions & Treatment
November 29, 2021

Heart Attack Symptoms: Men vs. Women

From cold sweats and extreme fatigue to neck and back pain, heart attack symptoms can manifest themselves differently in men and women.
By Nichole Polin, MD, FACC
Managing Hypertension Heart Disease
Conditions & Treatment
November 22, 2021

Managing Hypertension During the Holidays

The holidays can cause concern for those monitoring medical conditions like hypertension and heart disease.
By Carl (Chip) Lavie, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637
Follow us: Facebook Visit Ochsner Health on Facebook Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok
Sign up for our free health and wellness newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide