Heart disease and women: a worrying trend
Publication Date:02/05/2008
Research warning that in future more younger women could die of heart disease is worrying, especially since heart disease deaths continue to fall steadily among all other age groups. Here we explain the new research and look at what you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease.
What do we know already?
Every year 101,000 people in the UK die from heart disease, the UK's biggest killer. The main cause of death is heart attacks. Heart disease develops when fatty material builds up inside the arteries that supply the heart with blood and oxygen, causing them to become narrower and hard. An early sign of this is often angina (chest pain), which happens as it gets more difficult for the hardened, narrow arteries to deliver enough blood and oxygen to the heart. A heart attack happens when one of these arteries becomes completely blocked.
Deaths from heart disease in the UK peaked in the mid 1970s. Since then the number of people dying from heart disease has been falling steadily. This is thought to be because of the fall in the number of people smoking (a major risk factor for heart disease) and also because of improved treatments.
When researchers compile statistics they often look at deaths from heart disease across all ages. But it's important to look at what's happening in specific age groups because otherwise falls in deaths among one age group may hide less favourable trends among another. This is what the present study set out to do.
What does the new study say?
The new study looked at the deaths from heart disease in England and Wales from 1931 to 2005. It found that while the rate at which deaths from heart disease continues to fall steadily among most age groups, the rate at which deaths are falling among women under 50 has started to slow down, and that in the future, the death rate may actually begin to rise.
Researchers say that the increasing levels of obesity and diabetes and a fall in physical activity among women in this age group may be to blame for this trend. Smoking has also remained high among younger women, so may be another factor.
Still, many more men than women die from heart disease. Between 1996 and 2005, 12.5 out of 100,000 women aged between 45 and 49 died from heart disease. Out of 100,000 men this age, 61 died from heart disease. That's five times the number of women.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Liverpool. It was published in an online journal called BMC Public Health, which is published by BioMed Central.
What does this mean for me?
The findings from this study are especially important for women. They show that in general, deaths from heart disease continue to fall in the UK. But the rate at which they are falling is slowing down faster among women under 50 than in other groups. This is worrying and suggests that women need to look at their risk of heart disease at a younger age. Heart disease can often be prevented.
What should I do now?
Certain things increase your risk of getting heart disease. If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, even if you've already had a heart attack or have angina, you can help yourself if you:
- Stop smoking
- Keep physically active
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Reach and stay at a healthy weight
- Control your blood glucose if you have diabetes
- Take any medicines your doctor has prescribed, for example, for blood pressure or high cholesterol.
If you've had a heart attack you might want to join a cardiac rehabilitation programme. This can help you get better faster and help you change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of having another heart attack. If you feel anxious or depressed, counselling may help. Ask your doctor about what's available in your area.
If you think you may be at risk of heart disease, because for example, you're overweight or have diabetes, or because there is heart disease in your family, you can call the British Heart Foundation's helpline on 08450 70 80 70 for advice. Your doctor may also be able to advise you about professional support to help you lose weight or give up smoking.
From:
Allender S, Scarborough P, O'Flaherty M, et al. Patterns of coronary heart disease mortality over the 20th century in England and Wales: possible plateaus in the rate of decline. BMC Public Health. 2008; 8: 148.
To learn more see our information on heart attack, angina, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
News Archive
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
