Until now, women had to rely on prevention and treatment guidelines for coronary heart disease based on research on men.
This month, the American Heart Association outlined measures for women to combat and prevent cardiovascular disease, the first evidence-based guidelines for women.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is often fatal, and because nearly two thirds of women who die suddenly have no previously recognized symptoms, it is thus essential to prevent CHD. AHA figures show that about half a million women die of heart disease and strokes each year, killing more than the next seven causes of death combined, including cancer.
In comparisons between the genders, WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, says that women are more likely than men to die within one year of aheart attack; women are twice as likely as men to die after abypass; and 35 percent of female and 18 percent of maleheart attack survivors will have a recurrent heart attack within six years.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in both men and women include high cholesterol and blood pressure, smoking, not exercising, obesity, stress and a family history of heart disease and stroke.
Until now, women had to rely on prevention and treatment guidelines for coronary heart disease based on research on men.
This month, the American Heart Association outlined measures for women to combat and prevent cardiovascular disease, the first evidence-based guidelines for women.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is often fatal, and because nearly two thirds of women who die suddenly have no previously recognized symptoms, it is thus essential to prevent CHD. AHA figures show that about half a million women die of heart disease and strokes each year, killing more than the next seven causes of death combined, including cancer.
In comparisons between the genders, WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, says that women are more likely than men to die within one year of aheart attack; women are twice as likely as men to die after abypass; and 35 percent of female and 18 percent of maleheart attack survivors will have a recurrent heart attack within six years.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in both men and women include high cholesterol and blood pressure, smoking, not exercising, obesity, stress and a family history of heart disease and stroke.