How is heart disease different between men and women?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women in Pennsylvania, and in the nation, responsible in 2002 for 17,726 deaths in men and 20,565 in women. The average age at death from heart disease is age 78 for men and 85 for women. The hormone, estrogen, serves somewhat as a protector against heart disease in women until its decline at menopause. Women may therefore present symptoms of heart disease at an older age, and at a more advanced stage. Their symptoms may go undetected until an acute event (heart attack) has occurred. For men, the warning signs of heart disease include tightness in the chest, pain in the arm, and shortness of breath. Women generally have more indigestion and nausea, fatigue, palpitations, shoulder pains, and in some cases, no noticeable warning signs at all. For both men and women, it is very important to receive physical exams on a regular basis, before an severe event occurs, and to adopt a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, phys
