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Heart Disease in Women
Many people believe that women do not get heart disease. However, the fact is that one in three American women dies of this condition, and more women die from heart disease and stroke than from all cancers combined. Consider the following statistics:
- Thirty-eight percent of women will die within one year after having a heart attack.
- Within six years of having a heart attack, about 46 percent of women become disabled with congestive heart failure.
- Two-thirds of women who have a heart attack fail to make a full recovery.
Women tend to develop heart disease later in life than men. Many experts believe that female hormones help protect women from the condition prior to menopause. After menopause, heart disease is as common in women as it is in men.
(Click Women and Heart Disease for more in-depth information on this topic. This article takes a look at risk factors, treatment options, symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, and more.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD