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In 2004, heart disease was the leading cause of
death among women. Heart disease describes any
disorder that prevents the heart from functioning
normally. The most common type of heart
disease is coronary heart disease, in which the
arteries of the heart slowly narrow, reducing
blood flow to the heart muscle. Risk factors
include obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking,
high cholesterol, hypertension, and old age.
While the most common symptom of a heart
attack is chest pain or discomfort, women are
more likely than men to experience other
symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea
and vomiting, and back or jaw pain.1
Stroke is a type of heart disease that
affects blood flow. Warning signs are sudden and can include
facial, arm or leg numbness, especially on one side of the
body; severe headache; trouble walking; dizziness; a loss
of balance or coordination; or trouble seeing in one or
both eyes.1
In 2005, adult women under 45 years had a
higher rate of heart disease than men of the same
age (50.9 versus 35.2 per 1,000 adults, respectively).
However, men had a slightly higher
overall rate of heart disease than women. Heart
disease rates among both sexes increased with age.
In 2004, women were less likely than men to
undergo an operation on the cardiovascular
system, (202.0 per 10,000 women and 277.7 per
10,000 men). For example, the rate of coronary
artery bypass procedures was 8.3 per 10,000
women and 21.1 per 10,000 men.2
In 2005, the highest rate of heart disease was
among non-Hispanic White women (128.7 per
1,000), followed by non-Hispanic Black women
(107.1 per 1,000); Asian women had the lowest
rate (51.1 per 1,000). Although non-Hispanic
White women experience the highest rates of
heart disease, deaths from heart disease are
highest among non-Hispanic Black women.
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VERTICAL Bar CHART: Adults Aged 18 and Older with Heart
Disease, by Age and Sex, 2005
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VERTICAL Bar CHART: Women Aged 18 and Older with Heart
Disease, by Race/Ethnicity, 2005 |
