Coronary heart disease takes years to develop, and, in the case of women, it generally takes almost a decade longer to show up than it does in men. Estrogen helps protect women against heart disease. It reduces the risk for heart disease until a woman goes through menopause. After that point, the risk for heart disease in women is the same as that for men.

Many people think that breast cancer is the biggest health concern for women. But coronary heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. More women die from stroke than do men.

Women have a lower chance of surviving heart attacks than men do. Studies show that more women die within a year of having a heart attack than men. At older ages, women who have had heart attacks are more likely than men to die from them within a few weeks.

Before menopause, many women seem to be protected from heart attack and stroke. This may be from the hormone estrogen. Estrogen raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels and lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. But as women approach menopause, around age 50, things change. The blood cholesterol of an average woman begins to rise. After menopause, the risk for heart attack and stroke in women continues to rise with age. Loss of estrogen is a large contributor to women developing heart disease after menopause.

Cholesterol levels become more stable in men around age 55. But in most women, both LDL and total cholesterol levels start to rise. This is because the levels of estrogen fall after menopause.

Nearly half of African-American women have cardiovascular disease. Only 7 out of 20 white women have CVD.

Smoking is the greatest single preventable cause of death. Smoking has been linked with half of all heart-related problems in women. For women, smoking is the biggest preventable risk factor for heart attack and stroke. This is also true for men.

For women, smoking is the most important preventable risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Other healthy habits are controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular checkups. Many of the risks for cardiovascular diseases can be controlled by choosing healthy life habits. If women take control of their lives and choose habits that promote heart health, they can help prevent heart disease and stroke.

Coronary heart disease is a major risk factor for stroke.