Heart disease risk factors for women

Several traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease — such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity — affect both women and men. But other factors can play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women.

Heart disease risk factors for women include:

• Diabetes. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than are men with diabetes. Also, because diabetes can change the way you feel pain, you're at greater risk of having a silent heart attack — without symptoms.
• Mental stress and depression. Stress and depression affect women's hearts more than men's. Depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment.
• Smoking. Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men.
• Inactivity. A lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease. Some research has found women to be less active than men.
• Menopause. Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk of developing disease in smaller blood vessels.
• Pregnancy complications. High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase the mother's long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. The conditions also make women more likely to get heart disease.
• Family history of early heart disease. This appears to be a greater risk factor in women than in men.
• Inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and others can increase the risk of heart disease in both men and women.