Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Women

Heart disease is the number-one killer of women, leading to more deaths than all cancers combined. In fact, women are much more likely than men to die in the 12 months following their first heart attack. 

The increased risk after menopause
The risks for men and women are virtually identical. There is an increased risk of heart disease after menopause but, even then, the best protection is controlling other risks.

The loss of estrogen may be a reason for increased heart risks for women after menopause. Until recently, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been used to reduce the risks. After long-term research, the American Heart Association no longer recommends HRT to lower cardiovascular risks.