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More women than men dying of heart disease |
More women than men dying of heart disease
Tue July 07, 2009
According to the most recent data collected on heart-related deaths, 50.5 percent of all deaths caused by heart attack, stroke and heart failure occur in women - slightly higher than the 49.5 percent in men. While this may not seem like a significant difference, Dr. Jack Tu, senior scientist at Toronto's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences says that this represents a "seismic" shift in what has always been considered a disease of middle-aged men.
The reasons for the spike are unclear, but scientists believe there are three key factors. The number of women who smoke is now equal to the percentage of male smokers. There are disparities in the care that women and men receive, primarily because the medical profession has not typically considered women at high risk for heart disease. In addition, symptoms of heart disease in women and men can be quite different - and in fact, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is currently conducting an education campaign that points out these differences.
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