Why are men at higher risk than women for heart disease?

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While many of us associate heart disease as a condition that afflicts men, according to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease is the leading killer of women over 65. But are men still at a greater risk than women for heart disease?

Function

According to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 26 percent of the women who passed away in 2006 died from heart disease. The percentage is exactly the same for men.

Significance

According to the CDC, the same number of women and men die annually of heart disease. However, 35 percent of the women surveyed by the CDC in 2005 did not perceive heart disease as a risk to women.

Differences

Two-thirds of the women who die of heart disease exhibit no prior symptoms. About half of the men who die suddenly have no symptoms of heart disease before it kills them.

Prevention/Solution

Eating a healthy diet, cutting down on weight and partaking in regular exercise are all ways to prevent heart disease.

Symptoms

While heart disease sometimes has no symptoms, difficulty breathing, chest pain, irregular heartbeat and dizziness are all symptoms of a cardiac event.

Source:

CDC: Heart Disease in Women

CDC: Heart Disease in Men

Mayo Clinic: Heart Disease in Women

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Why are men at higher risk than women for heart disease?

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