Heart Disease - The Number One Killer In Women

disease has long been known as the biggest killer ofNo one yet knows exactly how much a woman's risk
men, but it often comes as a surprise to many peopleis affected by each of these changes, but they are
to learn that it's also the number one cause of death indefinitely associated with a greater risk of the disease.
women.Women who have gone through menopause are two
According to recent studies more than 8 millionto three times more likely to suffer heart disease than
American women are currently living with some forma pre-menopausal woman of the same age. Women
of the condition and, in fact, more women than men diethat have had a hysterectomy experience these
of heart disease each year, mainly because the retiredsame raised risk factors.
population is predominantly women.In the past, scientists studying women and heart
Heart disease in women can be diagnosed anddisease hypothesized that hormone replacement
treated but the real key to staying healthy istherapy could help post-menopausal women fight
prevention - once a woman finds out she has theheart disease; however, long-term studies do not
disease, it may already be too late. Chances are thatconfirm that preliminary idea and doctors no longer
the woman concerned has engaged in several riskrecommend hormone replacement therapy for the
factors throughout her lifetime that contributed to thecondition. Menopause we cannot change, but other risk
problem. The factors that increase the risk in womenfactors are under our control.
include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high bloodUsing hormonal birth control (the pill or the patch) is
pressure, inactivity, diabetes and obesity. That nowconsidered safe for women under thirty-five. As of
covers a large, and growing, slice of the generalnow, doctors do not have proof that birth control
population.hormones can increase or decrease problems for
Women have to understand that these risk factorswomen and heart disease, especially after the age of
need to be avoided as much as possible becausethirty-five. When talking about the risk factors with your
they are so susceptible. With just a few lifestyledoctor, get his or her opinion on your personal situation.
changes, all women can live long and healthy livesChanging Your Lifestyle
without any increased risk of heart problems.Heart disease in women doesn't need to have such a
There are inevitably factors that increase the risk inhigh morality rate. By adopting a few lifestyle changes
women that can't be helped or avoided. These include- getting more exercise, eating right, quitting smoking
age, heredity, the effects of the menopause, etc.and reducing stress levels - women can drastically
However, by knowing and understanding the effect ofreduce the problem. This is important not only for heart
these factors, women can arm themselves with asdisease but for other diseases as well.
much information as possible to take the actionHeart disease in women claims many lives each year
necessary to minimize the worst of the effects.but the condition can be manageable and preventable.
The Change of LifeWomen need to study and learn as much as they can
The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center explains howabout the subject. Too few women know that they
menopause changes the risks for women.have such a high probability of getting the disease but
Post-menopause, a woman's body experiencesby understanding and using this information they will
reduced estrogen production, changes in cholesterolgain the necessary advantage to, one day, making
levels, changes in the structure of blood vessels, andheart disease in women a thing of the past.
increased production of the clotting agent fibrinogen.