Cardiovascular disease: Being a woman, a factor that increases risk? - European Society of Cardiology congress

The European Society of Cardiology congress has reminded in the media about increased cardiovascular disease in women, a leading cause of death. Involved, a range of factors that may in some cases, such as smoking or physical inactivity, have increasing effects in women than in men. So, being a woman I am curious, is it also a factor that increases cardiac risk?

Cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and stroke, are globally the leading causes of death among older women. The symptoms are often different for women, which leads to misdiagnosis. Women also tend to develop these diseases at a later age than men but these diseases are now responsible for almost 12% of deaths among women under age 50.

The women themselves tend to underestimate the risk. However, in all ages, cardiovascular disease in France represent 31.7% of deaths among women and 26.4% for men, more than cancers of the Female.
Because of different symptoms in men and uneven support digestive pain, sweating, palpitations, nausea ... symptoms specific to women during a heart attack are not always detected in time.

Smoking is a recognized risk of cardiac disease, responsible for nearly 10% of cardiovascular disease in women. The women who smoke have an increased risk of 25% of heart disease than men! This is a dose-dependent factor for women and the more women smoke, the more the risk increases, according to a study published last August in the Lancet. Car cigarette cancels the natural protection against cardiovascular disease. And tobacco associated with oral contraception oestroprogestative is particularly harmful to the health of women who smoke when they are encouraged to opt for another method of contraception (IUD, contraceptive local ...). The association between smoking-pill multiplies by 10 the risk of myocardial infarction and 20 the risk of stroke.


Physical inactivity penalizes women more strongly in terms of heart: Thus, this study BMJ, 4 July assess this factor for the higher risk of pulmonary embolism, a common cause of heart disease, use of oral contraceptives or practice of long-distance travel by plane. Physical activity, (especially) after menopause is essential to prevent the risk.

In short, women have their own risk factors, such as age, family history, menopause, postmenopausal and overweight (BMI = kg / m²) over 25 or cholesterol and diabetes. Heart disease is almost all related to the same risk factors, prevention efforts will help to protect against angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and against heart failure and stroke.

Posted in: Women health