There are numerous risk factors that have been found to be associated with developing CVD. A number of them are considered traditional, as they are found in men and women with CVD at high rates. However, there are also unique risk factors found only in women that are commonly associated with this group developing CVD. The following list includes the predominant ones found in many cases of CVD in women. Smoking Smoking contributes to plaque formation in the blood vessels, which can result in various CVDs. Women smokers face up to a 25% increased risk of developing CAD compared to their male counterparts, with studies showing that reduction in smoking decreased the incidence of CAD in women by 13%. Obesity Obesity has been shown to be associated with several other factors that can cause CVD. With increasing body mass, the risk of developing various CVDs, such as ischemic stroke and coronary artery<unk>  grows as the unhealthy lifestyle maintained prevents the<unk>  system from functioning optimally. Women make up about 40% of obese adults over the age of 20. Postmenopausal women are also more likely to experience fat redistribution to the abdomen and develop metabolic syndrome, resulting in increased susceptibility to obesity. Hypertension Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) alters the structure of vessels overtime, such as narrowing or complete blockage of blood flow through. This can subsequently lead to CVDs, including stroke. The prevalence of certain disorders such as fibromuscular dysplasia is increased in premenopausal women and can lead to secondary hypertension. These factors, including others such as preeclampsia, have been shown to contribute to the risk of developing hypertension, and thus, consequently, CVDs from the resulting damage. Hypercholesterolemia Cholesterol, specifically high-density lipoprotein levels in women, is a critical risk factor to consider in women developing CVD. Any form of a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, i.e. plaque formation, can cause obstruction of blood flow and lead to various forms of CVD. Despite the high risk of<unk><unk> , women are less likely to receive appropriate treatment for dyslipidemia. Diabetes mellitus The high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes mellitus is also an important<unk>  risk factor to consider. Data suggests that women with diabetes are at five times greater risk than those without for developing CVD. Uncontrolled levels of glucose can cause damage to the vessels and nerves alike, increasing the risk of developing other conditions, including CVD. Women with type I diabetes were found to be twice as likely to experience adverse<unk>  events when compared to men with the same<unk> , but were less likely to receive aggressive treatment to control modifiable risk factors. Women with Type II diabetes are also at greater risk than men with the same condition despite similar glycemic control. Physical activity Lower levels of fitness are commonly associated with blockages and obstructed blood flow found in CVDs. As exercise promotes the use of the heart and improves oxygen affinity for muscles, this can help relieve stress from the heart and allow for it to pump at a normal pace while providing more nutrients and oxygen to the body. An observational study found that those with limited physical activity in their day were at a 4.7 times increased risk for stroke and other forms of CVD. Ethnicity and race The prevalence of CVD has been shown to vary greatly amongst different ethnic and racial groups. Overall, ethnic minority women exhibit greater risk factors for CVD than white women. Black women are at the highest rate of CVD-related death. The cause for these gaps is still unclear, however, this may be related to genetics, socioeconomic status, education status, or inequitable health resources access. Socioeconomic status Lower socioeconomic status has been shown to be largely associated with an increased risk of CVD development. This may be due to a combination of psychosocial risk factors affecting those in these groups. Additionally, inequitable access to much-needed resources to appropriately identify and treat these conditions may lead to delayed diagnosis and inability to treat appropriately. Age The risk of CVD development increases as women age. During the fertility age of a woman, the high levels of estrogen provide cardioprotective effects. This, however, curbs significantly after menopause and increases the prevalence of CVD found in women. Research has found that for women 75 years old and higher, the incidence of CVD is significantly higher than for men. Hypertensive<unk>  of pregnancy As mentioned previously, hypertension can be severely damaging to vessels and the heart, and can cause subsequent CVD to develop. Hypertensive disorders can be seen in 10% of pregnancies, and preeclampsia has been recognized as a risk factor for developing hypertension after pregnancy. This may be due to the overwhelming amount of factors in common between pregnancy and CVD, which may piggyback and elevate its effects. Hypertension during pregnancy may also contribute to the development of long-term<unk>  abnormalities that may eventually lead to the development of CVDs. Gestational diabetes mellitus Similar to hypertensive<unk>  of pregnancy, the already prevalent risk factor of diabetes mellitus combined with pregnancy puts women at increased risk of developing CVD. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing traditional risk factors for CVD, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The irreversible changes made during pregnancy may make these women prone to CVDs in the long term. Additionally, women diagnosed with gestational diabetes remain at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVD, despite blood sugar metabolism returning to normal post-pregnancy. Other pregnancy-associated conditions Pregnancy offers numerous vascular and metabolic changes that, although may seem temporary, result in long-term effects on the<unk>  system. Women who deliver prior to 37 weeks gestation are at increased risk of developing CVD, with additional risk depending on the number and timing of preterm births. Data suggests that women with a history of preterm births have two times the risk of CVD-related deaths than women with regular-term births. This may be due to the complications associated with preterm birth and its effect on the mothers. Additionally, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which affect up to 10% of all births, in prior pregnancies is associated with an increase in maternal CVD risk for both the mother and the baby. Finally, prior pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth, also contributed to a two-fold increase in risk of maternal CVD. Autoimmune<unk> s Certain autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are significantly more likely to occur in women. Some populations of women are also more likely to be affected than others. For example, SLE is two to four times more prevalent in black women when compared to white women. Studies have also shown that women with SLE are at least nine times more likely to experience a myocardial infarction when compared to the general population, with some estimates showing a 50-fold increase in risk. Similarly, RA increases the risk of death from CVD by 50%. In autoimmune<unk> s, the immune system reacts to the individual’s antigens itself, which can cause local or systemic issues. This is furthered by the microvasculature in women that puts women at increased risk to develop autoimmune<unk> s themselves. Menopause Estrogen has several cardioprotective effects on women, thus during the age of fertility – i.e. puberty to menopause – females are at a lower risk of developing CVD. However, menopause is associated with a decrease in estrogen production. This allows for typical<unk>  issues to implement their effects with little protection from the women’s body. In rare cases, early menopause is correlated with increased CVD risk, although the relationship between the two is complex. Premature menopause is defined as menopause prior to the age of 40. Although the relationship between the two is complex, it seems to be due to the prevalence of atherosclerosis in perimenopause. Polycystic ovary syndrome Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder prevalent in young women that is classically associated with irregular menstruation, androgen excess, and infertility. It is unclear whether PCOS is associated with an increased risk of developing CVD. However, PCOS is associated with multiple traditional risk factors of CVD such as diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, which may naturally put the individual at increased risk of developing CVD. Depression Due to biological and sociological causes, women are twice as likely to have depression when compared to men. Studies have shown that women with depression are at greater risk of developing CVD when compared to peers without depression, although this relationship is still unclear. Moreover, depression has also been associated with smoking, a traditional risk factor for CVD. Breast Cancer Treatment Because of the location of the heart in relation to the breasts, breast cancer treatments have shown to cause the increased risk, acute or chronic, of CVD. Exposure to radiation and chemotherapy in cancer treatments have shown to cause complications in the heart and its blood vessels, causing scarring or stiffening of heart tissue, which is detrimental to the heart’s function. Female sex hormones Estrogen
Cardiovascular disease in women
Thyroid disease in women
Risk factors for breast cancer
Autoimmune disease in women
Male lactation
High-risk pregnancy
Sleep problems in women
Women and smoking