Women’s cardiovascular health has historically been under-diagnosed, under-researched and under-treated. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that we learned women’s cardiovascular biology differs from that of men, who’ve historically been centered in the health care system. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both sexes in the U.
S., . Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, yet many women are still unaware that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat.
In fact, almost 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. For women in particular, certain health patterns that begin as early as childhood can lead to or predict the development of certain heart conditions in the future. For example, getting your first period at age 10 or earlier increases your risk of cardiac events.
Pregnancy complications such as and gestational diabetes can also be warning signs of future heart problems. Having and being post-menopausal are both considered cardiovascular disease risk factors for women. Other health conditions common in women can increase risk of heart disease, including , polycystic ovarian syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Getting screened for cardiovascular disease needs to become as routine as getting a mammogram or pap smear. There are screening tools that exist, including risk calculators and a calcium score test, which can both help pred.
