 |
|
||
|
|
||
| Heart
Disease in Women-2003 Update Heart disease remains the number one killer of women and men of all ethnic groups in the U.S. There are 5 different types. Hypertensive heart disease, refers to a thickening of the main heart muscle and arteries due to hypertension defined as BP=140/90. Hypertension affects 60,000,000 people in the U.S. and is responsible for 202,000 deaths annually. Deaths occur from stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure. Heart failure refers to the failure of the heart to work as a pump and is the major cause of disability affecting 500,000 more people each year. Valvular heart disease refers to an abnormality in one of the 4 valves that control blood flow through the heart. These valves can leak or close off. Arrhythmia is the type of heart disease that can lead to sudden death. The major type of heart disease in this country which remains the number one killer of men and women is coronary artery disease (CHD) or hardening of the arteries that feed blood to the heart Significant blockages is these arteries can cause myocardial infarction or heart attack or death of heart muscle, irregular heart rhythm, and heart failure. CHD kills 310,000 women annually. Ten times as many women die of CHD than from breast cancer. About 1.2 million people have heart attacks every year. 43% of these are women. The major coronary artery disease risk factors are diabetes, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol profile, obesity, tobacco use, family history of premature CHD (first heart attack male relative<55 and female relative <65). After menopause, women have the same risk of heart disease as men. Diabetes poses a greater risk factor for women than men irrespective of menopausal status with a 3 to 7 times higher incidence of CHD. Elevated LDL or bad cholesterol (>100 if already with CHD or DM) portends a worse prognosis for women than men. The HDL or good cholesterol should be greater than 40. These should be checked at least annually.
|
 |
 |
 |
