Heart Diseases: Differences In Men And Women

We all know how fatal a heart or cardiovascular disease can be. Heart diseases have become very common in the era we are living in. They are a leading cause of death among both men and women. But the risks and symptoms can differ between the two genders.

In recent years, medical science has progressed a lot, allowing doctors and scientists to understand and combat heart problems in both the genders.

Heart diseases in men-

One out of every 3 men faces some kind of heart problem. So let us look at the most common types of heart diseases in men:

• Coronary artery disease

• High blood pressure

• Cardiac arrest

• Stroke

• Arrhythmia

These heart disease are caused because of many factors like smoking, unhealthy food habits, diabetes etc. Smoking is a major cause because it narrows the arteries by 40% which leads to irregular blood flow and affects the heart. Sometimes it even leads to blood clots along the artery which can completely block an artery, reducing the oxygen supply to the heart. Therefore, to maintain a healthy heart, we must stop unhealthy lifestyle habits and stay physically active.

Heart diseases in women-

The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get a heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about it. The most common types of heart diseases in women:

• Coronary microvascular disease (MVD)

• Broken heart syndrome

There are a few risk factors of heart diseases which are unique in women, these include - menopause, overuse of hormonal birth control pills and also history of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Thus, women have a few more risk factors to worry about. The ways to prevent heart diseases are almost the same in men and women which includes healthy eating, no smoking and regular exercising.