Dispelling the Myths of Heart Disease for Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for older Americans, but many people do not realize that women are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than men. Women are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease as from all forms of cancer combined, including breast cancer. This article reviews heart disease risks for women, addressing the role of age, ethnicity, genetics, gender, symptom manifestation, and risk stratification, as well as providing a review of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, screening options, and current issues in hormone replacement therapy. The information is presented in a format intended to be useful at the point of care, with the goal of assisting clinicians to counsel women about their personal risk for heart disease.