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Stone, Neil. "Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women." 18 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/coronary-heart-disease-risk-factors-in-women.htm> 17 May 2008.
by Neil Stone
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High Blood Pressure in Women
High blood pressure in women becomes more of a concern as they age. This condition is the most common cardiovascular disease in the United States and a serious risk factor of coronary heart disease and stroke. But according to the American Heart Association, men have a greater risk of high blood pressure until age 55, and after 55, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure.Blood pressure begins to become a risk factor of coronary heart disease when it exceeds 115/75 mm Hg. Pre-hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg, and lifestyle changes, which may be especially beneficial for women, are recommended at this point.
Weight loss and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which restricts sodium, can significantly improve blood pressure. If lifestyle changes don't result in lower blood pressure, or blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or greater, medication may be necessary.
The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial -- which specifically targeted women -- compared three antihypertensive drugs in people who had high blood pressure. While all of them reduced risk of coronary heart disease, the diuretic chlorthalidone lowered the risk of heart failure more than amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker), and it also lowered the risk of stroke more than lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor). The results from this study suggest that a diuretic, included as part of a multi-drug regimen, can be particularly beneficial.
Diabetes should be of particular concern to women who are at risk of coronary heart disease. Find out why on the next page.
For more information on coronary heart disease, see:
- Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Women typically do not have obvious signs of heart disease, making it difficult to diagnose. Find out who should get tested.
- Diagnosing Coronary Heart Disease in Women: A range of tests are available if your risk is higher than 5 percent. Learn what these are, and why some aren't always accurate.
- Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Traditional treatment isn't always effective in women. Learn about lifestyle changes to keep your heart healthy.
- Coronary Heart Disease: This condition is the culmination of years of plaque buildup in the arteries. Find out how to prevent it.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Stone, Neil. "Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women." 18 April 2007. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/coronary-heart-disease-risk-factors-in-women.htm> 17 May 2008.
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Acute Upper Airway Obstruction Addison’s Disease Adenomyosis Adhesion Adjustment Disorder Adolescent Depression Adolescent Pregnancy Adrenocortical Carcinoma Adrenoleukodystrophy Adult Still's Disease Agammaglobulinemia Age-related Hearing Loss Agoraphobia Agranulocytosis Aicardi Syndrome AIDS Albinism Alcohol Withdrawal Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Alcoholic Ketoacidosis Alcoholic Liver Disease Alcoholic Neuropathy Alcoholism Alkalosis Alkaptonuria Allergic Conjunctivitis Allergic Rhinitis Allergic Vasculitis Allergies Allergy To Mold - Dander - Dust Alopecia Areata Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Alport Syndrome Alström Syndrome Alveolar Abnormalities Alzheimer’s Disease Amaurosis Fugax Amblyopia Amebiasis Amebic Liver Abscess Amelogenesis Imperfecta Amenorrhea Amniotic Constriction Bands Amphetamine Or Sympathomimetic Into... 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Arthritis Asbestos-related Pleural Effusion Asbestosis Ascariasis Ascites Aseptic Meningitis Aseptic Necrosis Asherman Syndrome Asperger Syndrome Aspergillosis Aspiration Pneumonia Asthma Astigmatism Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Asymptomatic HIV Infection Ataxia-telangiectasia Atelectasis Atheroembolic Renal Disease Atherosclerosis Athlete's Foot Atrial Fibrillation/flutter Atrial Myxoma Atrial Septal Defect Atrophic Vaginitis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Dis... Atypical Mycobacterial Infection Atypical Pneumonia Aural Polyps Autism Autoerythrocyte Sensitivity Autoimmune Disorders Autoimmune Hepatitis Autonomic Hyperreflexia Autonomic Neuropathy Avian Influenza Avoidant Personality Disorder Axillary Nerve Dysfunction Bacterial Gastroenteritis Baker’s Cyst Balanitis Barbiturate Intoxication And Overdo... Barrett’s Esophagus Bartholin’s Abscess Bartter Syndrome Basal Cell Carcinoma Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome Basal Ganglia Dysfunction Bassen-Kornzweig Syndrome Bathing Trunk Nevus Becker's Muscular Dystrophy Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Bedwetting Bell's Palsy Benign Ear Cyst Or Tumor Benign Positional Vertigo Beriberi Bezoar Bilateral Hydronephrosis Bile Duct Obstruction Biliary Atresia Biliary Stricture Bipolar Disorder Birth-acquired Herpes Birthmarks - Pigmented Birthmarks - Red Bladder Cancer Bladder Outlet Obstruction Bladder Stones Blastomycosis Blastomycosis Skin Lesion Bleeding Disorders Bleeding Esophageal Varices Blepharitis Blind Loop Syndrome Blocked Tear Duct Blood Clots Blount's Disease Body Lice Bone Tumors Borderline Personality Disorder Botulism Bowlegs Brachial Palsy In Newborns Brachial Plexopathy Brain Abscess Brain Herniation Brain Tumor - Adults Brain Tumor - Children Branchial Cleft Cyst Breast Cancer Breast Infection Breast Milk Jaundice Breath Holding Spell Brief Reactive Psychosis Bronchial Adenoma Bronchiectasis Bronchiolitis Bronchitis Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Brucellosis Bruxism Bulimia Bullous Pemphigoid Bunions Burkitt Lymphoma Bursitis Byssinosis Campylobacter Enteritis Canavan Disease Cancer Cancer - Penis Cancer - Renal Pelvis Or Ureter Cancer - Throat Or Larynx Cancer - Vulva Candida Esophagitis Canker Sores Caplan Syndrome Caput Succedaneum Carbunculosis Carcinoid Syndrome Cardiac Amyloidosis Cardiac Tamponade Cardiogenic Shock Cardiomyopathy Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cat Scratch Disease Cataract Catheter-associated UTI Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis Celiac Disease - Sprue Cellulitis Central Pontine Myelinolysis Central Serous Choroidopathy Central Sleep Apnea Cerebral Hypoxia Cerebral Palsy Cervical Cancer Cervical Dysplasia Cervical Polyps Cervical Spondylosis Cervicitis Chagas Disease Chalazion Chancroid Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (heredi... Charley Horse Chediak-Higashi Syndrome Chemical Pneumonitis Cherry Angioma Chickenpox Chiggers Child Abuse - Physical Child Abuse - Sexual Child Neglect And Psychological Abu... Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Chinese Restaurant Syndrome Chlamydia Chlamydia Infections In Women Chlamydial Urethritis - Male Choanal Atresia Cholangiocarcinoma Cholangitis Choledocholithiasis Cholera Cholestasis Cholesteatoma Chondromalacia Patella Choroidal Dystrophies Chronic Bilateral Obstructive Uropa... Chronic Bronchitis Chronic Cholecystitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Glomerulonephritis Chronic Gouty Arthritis Chronic Granulomatous Disease Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Chronic Motor Tic Disorder Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disea... Chronic Pancreatitis Chronic Persistent Hepatitis Chronic Renal Failure Chronic Subdural Hematoma Chronic Thyroiditis (Hashimoto̵... Chronic Unilateral Obstructive Urop... Chylomicronemia Syndrome Cirrhosis Cleft Lip And Palate Cleidocranial Dysostosis Clubfoot Cluster Headaches CMV - Gastroenteritis/colitis CMV - Immunocompromised Host CMV - Pneumonia CMV Esophagitis CMV Retinitis Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis Coarctation Of The Aorta Cocaine Intoxication Cocaine Withdrawal Coccidioidomycosis Coccidioidomycosis - Acute Pulmonar...