Heart disease has long been associated with advancing age, but this traditional perception is beginning to shift with rising incidence rates among younger women, amid warnings of an increased risk of heart disease and mortality among young women.
اضافة اعلان
Recent research indicates that nearly one-third of women aged 20 to 44 could develop heart disease by 2050, compared to approximately one-quarter today, according to a report published by The New York Times. The report highlighted that women under the age of 55 face a higher risk of dying from heart attacks compared to men in the same age group.
Dr. Emily Lau, co-director of the Women’s Heart Health Program at Mass General Brigham, stated that "despite common misconceptions, heart disease is indeed a disease that affects women too," while simultaneously emphasizing that the risk of infection and illness can be reduced.
Despite the heightened risks, doctors affirm that prevention remains achievable, particularly through early detection and control of risk factors.
One factor explaining the rising rates of heart disease among young women lies in the increasing prevalence of key risk factors at younger ages—chiefly obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
While these factors apply to both men and women alike, research has shown that the impact of certain factors may be greater in women. For example, women with diabetes face a higher risk of developing diabetes-related heart disease compared to men with the same condition.
The same applies to smoking, which studies have shown increases the risk of heart disease in women to a greater degree than in men.
Another alarming factor is high blood pressure, as it is often underdiagnosed or inadequately treated in women. However, the risk of heart disease may begin to rise in women at lower blood pressure levels than those that pose the same risk for men, according to C. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center in Los Angeles.
Therefore, regular monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and glycated hemoglobin (A1C)—which reflects average blood glucose levels—serves as important tools for evaluating heart disease risk.
Doctors recommend that adults strive to maintain:
Blood pressure at less than 120/80 mmHg.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level at less than 100 mg/dL.
Body Mass Index (BMI) at less than 25.
Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level at 5.6 or lower.
Preventive measures that can help lower risk also include adopting a healthy diet, refraining from smoking, limiting alcohol intake, along with practicing aerobic and resistance exercises.
There is also a positive aspect to the difference between women and men regarding the impact of certain risk factors: studies suggest that women can achieve the same reduction in cardiovascular risk and related mortality through half the amount of exercise required for men to achieve the same result.
Furthermore, risk factors for heart disease are not limited to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking. Evidence is growing regarding the importance of a group of factors specifically linked to women's health, including early menopause (occurring before age 40) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
They also include pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, alongside certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases—such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis—which affect women at higher rates than men.
Dr. Martha Gulati, director of the Davis Center for Women’s Heart Health at Houston Methodist Hospital, noted that each of these conditions is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, though this correlation does not necessarily mean they are the direct cause.
In addition to blood tests and routine checkups, supplementary tests can help provide a clearer picture of heart disease risk for certain women. These include the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, which is measured via a specialized cardiac CT scan.
This scan helps detect the presence and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, allowing doctors to identify indicators of disease before symptoms appear and initiate appropriate therapeutic and preventive measures.
Al Arabiya
