Heart health is crucial for everyone, but it’s especially important for older women.
A new, large-scale study just revealed that older women with clogged arteries face a higher risk of heart attacks than men of the same age.
This information is not just interesting, it’s vital.
Understanding how heart risks differ between genders could help doctors make better treatment decisions. So, what did the study find, and what does it mean for you?
Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to examine the arteries of nearly 25,000 adults. They then tracked these patients for heart-related issues and death.
The study showed that, after menopause, women are more at risk of heart attacks than men, even when they have the same amount of arterial plaque.
Arterial plaque is the gunk made up of fat and cholesterol that can clog arteries, making it difficult for blood to flow through them.
The study used something called the “Leiden CCTA score” to rate the level of this plaque in each person. The scale goes from 0 to 42, and based on the score, patients were classified into three groups: low, medium, and high risk of having a heart attack.
While men and women had similar scores, the outcome for postmenopausal women was worse.
Interestingly, the study found that women generally start having these plaque issues about 12 years later than men. However, once they do start, the risks for women are higher.
Implications for Treatment
So, why does this matter? Well, understanding these gender differences could lead to better treatments. For example, older women might need higher doses of medications like statins, which help lower cholesterol.
The study’s findings could directly influence how doctors decide to treat older women at risk of heart attacks, making sure they get the right kind and amount of medication.
Dr. Sophie van Rosendael, who led the study, suggests that the smaller inner diameter of coronary arteries in women might be a reason for the increased risk.
This means that the same amount of plaque could have a bigger impact on blood flow in women than in men. She also highlighted the need for more research to confirm these findings and to explore the best treatment options.
Bottom Line
This research shows that heart health isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Men and women face different risks, especially as they get older. For women, the menopausal phase appears to be particularly crucial for heart health.
It’s a wake-up call for everyone from doctors to policymakers to take these gender differences seriously.
If you’re a woman approaching or past menopause, these findings mean you should have a serious chat with your doctor about your heart health.
And if you’re a man, don’t assume you’re off the hook. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both sexes. Being proactive about your health, at any age, is the best medicine.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about Daytime naps longer than 30 minutes may double risk of irregular heartbeat and findings of the root cause of heart rhythm disease.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to a higher risk of heart failure, and results showing this drug could reduce heart disease, fatty liver, and obesity.
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