Diabetes to three-fourths of people with diabetes will die of some form of Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times …
Facts about Womens Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke More men than women
have high blood pressure until age 55 From age 55 and older, the
percentage of women with high blood pressure continues to increase
The prevalence of high blood pressure is two to three times more common
in women taking oral contraceptives, especially those who are older and
obese, than in women not taking them
High blood pressure is a cause of death for more women than men For
Americans age 20 and older, the prevalence of high blood pressure is:
o 295 percent of white females have high blood pressure, compared
with 322 percent of white males,
o 416 percent of black or African-American females have high blood
pressure, compared with 447 percent of black or African-American
males, and
o 345 percent of Mexican females have high blood pressure,
compared with 299 percent of
Mexican males
Smoking
207 percent of American women age 18 and older smoke, putting them at
increased risk for a heart attack or stroke
Smoking is substantially higher among white youths age 18-24 from
families with lower education levels than it is among black and Mexican-
American youths from families with similar education levels Sixty-one
percent of young white women from this group are current smokers compared
to 35 percent of minority youth
For Americans age 18 and older:
o 217 percent of white females smoke, compared with 251
percent of white males,
o 180 percent of black or African-American females smoke, compared
with 276 percent of black or African-American males, and
o 125 percent of Hispanic or Latino females smoke, compared with 232
percent of Hispanic or Latino males
Cholesterol
Beginning at age 45, a higher percentage of women than men have total
blood cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher levels between 200 and 239
mg/dL are considered borderline high
The risk of heart attack in both men and women is highest when they have
lower HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL and higher total
cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL
For Americans age 20 and older:
o 536 percent of white
females have total blood cholesterol levels of
200 mg/dL or higher, compared with 51 percent of white males,
o 464 percent of black females have total blood cholesterol levels of
200 mg/dL or higher, compared with 373 percent of black males, and
Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors, 2 of 2
o 447 percent of Mexican females have total blood cholesterol levels of
200 mg/dL or higher, compared with 543 percent of Mexican males
Physical Inactivity
Physical inactivity is more prevalent among women than men, among blacks
and Hispanics than whites, among older than younger adults and among the
less affluent than the more affluent
A recent study of over 72,000 female nurses indicates that moderate-
intensity physical activity such as walking is associated with a
substantial reduction in the risk of total and ischemic stroke when
compared with physical activity done at an average or casual pace
For Americans age 18 and older:
o 362 percent of white females are physically inactive, compared
with 325 percent of white males,
o 552 percent of black females are physically inactive, compared
with 441
percent of black males, and
o 574 percent of Hispanic females are physically inactive,
compared with 489 percent of Hispanic males
Overweight and Obesity
Each year an estimated 300,000 US adults die of causes related to
obesity
For Americans age 20 and older:
o 573 percent of white females are overweight or obese, compared with
674 percent of white males,
o 773 percent of black or African-American females are overweight or
obese, compared with 607 percent of black or African-American males,
o 719 percent of Mexican females are overweight or obese, compared with
747 percent of Mexican males, and
o 566 percent of Hispanic females age 18 and older are overweight or
obese, compared with 662 percent of Hispanic males
Diabetes
Two-thirds to three-fourths of people with diabetes will die of some form
of heart or blood vessel disease
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four
times higher than those for adults without diabetes The risk for stroke
is two to four times higher as well The age-adjusted prevalence of
major cardiovascular disease for women with diabetes is
twice that for
women without diabetes The age-adjusted major cardiovascular disease
hospital discharge rate for women with diabetes is almost four times the
rate for women without diabetes
For Americans age 20 and older:
o 47 percent of white females have physician-diagnosed diabetes,
compared with 54 percent of white males,
o 95 percent of black females have physician-diagnosed diabetes,
compared with 76 percent of black males, and
o 114 percent of Mexican-American females have physician-diagnosed
diabetes, compared with 81 percent of Mexican-American males
Sources: American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -
2004 Update
American Heart Association Biostatistical Fact Sheet, Women and
Cardiovascular Disease
Footnote: Data is for non-Hispanic white and black males and females
