Heart Disease in Women

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease causes one in three deaths each year, making it the number one killer of women - affecting women at any age and at any time.

At St. John's Hospital Camarillo, we aim to help women improve and maintain their heart health. We know that women have unique lifestyle and health care needs, and we tailor our heart health services and treatment specifically to each person.

Heart Disease Risk Factors for Women are Different than Man

Most women don't realize their risk factors for heart disease are different than those for men. Age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and family history are certainly known risk factors, but there are also other unique factors specific to women:

• Women with high job stress have a much higher risk for heart disease and heart attack.
• Conditions involving chronic inflammation such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis nearly double a woman's risk.
• Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can increase risk or heart disease and stroke later in life. 
• Metabolic syndrome – a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides – has a greater impact on women than on men.
• Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
• Following menopause, low levels of estrogen pose a significant risk factor for developing heart disease in smaller blood vessels.

To better understand your heart health risks, take our free Heart Health Assessment.

For a cardiologist at St. John’s, call (877) 753-6248, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.