Heart Attack Risk Rises in Middle-Aged Women by Dr. David Lipschitz on Creators.com

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Heart Attack Risk Rises in Middle-Aged Women

In recent years, American women have become increasingly aware that heart disease is not just a "man's issue."

Before menopause, a woman's risk of heart attack is lower than a man's. But post-menopause, the risk slowly increases and both sexes have similar statistics within a decade. And these days we now know that in the last two decades of life, a woman's risk of heart attack and death from heart disease is greater than a man's.

In a study just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers followed 8,000 middle-aged men and women from 35 to 54, who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994 and between 1999 and 2005.

During the first time period, 2.5 percent of men and 0.7 percent of women reported having a heart attack. But in the later period, the percentage of men having a heart attack decreased to 2.2 percent and the risk in women increased to 1 percent. For the first time ever, heart attacks were showing an alarming increase in premenopausal women. Although in absolute numbers this increase in prevalence seems small, the trend is nevertheless important.

During the total time frame, an interesting trend was observed: It appeared as if men were more serious in improving health habits and decreasing risks of heart attack. For example, the total and HDL cholesterol and smoking rates either remained stable in men or improved, whereas risk factors for heart attack appeared to worsen in women. The risk of obesity increased, as did the risk of diabetes for men and women.

There was, however, some good news for women. During the second period, women's survival rate in the hospital after a heart attack increased more substantially than men's. Women under the age of 55 were three times less likely to die from a heart attack than men of the same age.

In the end, women after menopause seem to lose the protective effects of female hormones, and after the age of 60, the risk of heart attacks increases. Without major changes in lifestyle habits and actively seeking to reduce risk of disease, the incidence of heart attacks will continue to increase for older women.

This information must be a wake-up call for every American woman.

Despite a massive public education campaign and increased awareness of the dangers of heart disease, women may not be taking this risk seriously. Statistics show that lifestyle factors leading to heart disease deteriorate over time, and the impact of these negative habits appears to have a greater effect on women.

In the fight against heart disease, there have been some great strides in the management and treatment of heart disease in women. Most are more aware of the symptoms of a heart attack, seek medical care earlier, and physicians no longer brush off minor symptoms, such as chest pain, palpitations or shortness of breath.

For young women, the symptoms of a heart attack can be very atypical and the diagnosis can be difficult, which has led to more compulsive screening for heart attacks in emergency rooms and doctors' offices.

Today, women and men are receiving excellent care for heart attacks that are diagnosed earlier and with more accuracy. This, in turn, is reflected in substantial gains in life expectancy and preventing death.

But while there have clearly been advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks, we are not doing nearly as well in preventing this life-threatening disease. Without a major commitment to prevention, the increased demand for care as baby boomers age will cripple the medical system.

Living a heart-healthy life has to become embedded into the fabric of American society. We must learn to eat healthy, exercise and regularly monitor our health to identify and treat high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol. In fact, more and more evidence suggests that the earlier we commit to good health habits, the better.

Initial screenings for risk factors for heart disease should commence at age 30 or even younger for those with a strong family history of illness. Neither women nor men should underestimate the severity of heart disease, and we must all do our part to decrease the risk of heart attacks.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.