A recent study reveals that common heart disease risk factors, such as poor diet and high blood pressure, have a greater impact on women than men. Despite generally leading healthier lifestyles, women’s heart health concerns are often overlooked. However, adopting positive habits like a nutritious diet and regular exercise offers significant protection.
Women More Affected by Heart Disease Risks
New research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session found that women are nearly twice as likely to maintain healthy habits. However, factors such as poor diet, high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure increase their cardiovascular disease risk more than men’s.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Yet, risk factors in women are frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, according to Rachel Bond, MD, a women’s heart health expert at Dignity Health in Arizona. Women may also receive less guidance on preventive lifestyle changes.
Maneesh Sud, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author and a cardiologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, emphasized the need for gender-specific heart health guidelines. “It’s not one size fits all,” he explained.
Examining Key Risk Factors
The study analyzed data from over 175,000 Canadians enrolled in the Ontario Health Study from 2009 to 2017. Participants had no history of heart disease and provided information on diet, exercise, smoking, sleep, cholesterol, blood glucose, and obesity—factors linked to cardiovascular risk.
Researchers tracked participants’ health outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, from the study’s start through March 2023.
Women in the study averaged 47 years old, while men averaged 50. About 54% of women met ideal dietary standards—consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily—compared to 35% of men. Women also had healthier blood pressure (73% vs. 68%) and glucose levels (92% vs. 89%). However, men were slightly more active, with 73% meeting exercise guidelines compared to 70% of women.
While poor health metrics increased heart disease risk for both genders, the link was nearly twice as strong in women.
Implications for Women’s Heart Health
Future research aims to explore how hormones and menopause influence women’s heart disease risk. Estrogen is believed to protect heart health, but its exact role in increasing vulnerability remains unclear.
Doctors must tailor heart health counseling to individual risk factors, especially for women, Bond noted. Previous studies show that women who smoke are 25% more likely to develop heart disease than men who smoke the same amount.
Though conducted in Canada, the study’s findings likely apply to the U.S., where women often prioritize others’ needs over their own health, Bond added. Poor diets and high-stress lifestyles also contribute to heightened risks.
Annapoorna Kini, MD, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York, pointed out that the fast-paced American lifestyle may further harm women’s heart health. Stress can lead to neglecting proper diet, exercise, and sleep—key factors in heart disease prevention.
Despite the heightened risks, experts stress that healthy choices can offer significant protection for women’s heart health. “We need to emphasize these lifestyle factors in women’s care,” Kini said.
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