According to the National Institutes of Health, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Approximately 80% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 have one or more risk factors for coronary heart disease.
Nationwide, heart-disease awareness among women has declined, particularly among Black and Hispanic women. This Valentine’s Day, health experts are urging women to learn about the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and take steps to protect heart health.
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Dr. Gina Wei, senior scientific advisor on women’s health with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, explained that hormonal changes may affect a woman’s risk for coronary heart disease. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, endometriosis, and lack of physical activity, among others.
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“To all young women, heart disease can strike at any age. But the good news is it’s largely preventable. So it’s very important to know your personal risk factors,” Wei said.
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According to the Institutes, many heart-disease symptoms in women often differ from men, including prolonged chest pain while resting, nausea and vomiting, and sleep problems. According to the Ohio Department of Health, among Buckeye State residents, heart disease rates are higher in adults aged 65 and older and among people living in the Appalachian region of the state.
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How changing everday routines helps when it comes to heart disease
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Wei added that making small changes in everyday routines can keep hearts healthy.
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“So, for example, we can try adding a little bit more physical activity to our day, we can add an extra fruit or vegetable to a meal, take some time to de-stress through meditation or prayer, and try to get enough sleep,” she said.
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More than 60 million American women are living with some form of heart disease, and the condition is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. In 2021, one in five female deaths were caused by heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
