Heart Disease in Women Causes and Risk Factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity

Women’s Heart Disease - Causes and Risk Factors

Diabetes
Diabetes and prediabetes raise the risk of coronary artery disease more in women than in men. In fact, having diabetes almost doubles a woman’s risk of developing heart disease.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) usually occurs without any symptoms. Women who have blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg are at increased risk for coronary artery disease. A normal healthy blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.

Learn more on managing your high blood pressure here.
High cholesterol
High cholesterol also occurs without any symptoms, and even skinny women can have high cholesterol. The build-up of excess cholesterol causes narrowing of the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart.
Obesity
People who have excess body fat – especially located around the waist – are more prone to developing heart disease and stroke. Overweight women are 55% more at risk of developing heart disease than men.
Smoking
Smokers have two to three times the risk of non-smokers for sudden cardiac death. Female smokers are twice as likely as male smokers to have a heart attack.
Psychosocial factors
Depression is twice more prevalent in women with heart attacks. Acute stress is associated with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as ‘broken heart syndrome’, especially in women.