Facts about women’s heart health

If asked to name the No. 1 killer of women, many people might be excused for providing an incorrect answer. Various issues affect women’s health, and some issues garner more attention than others. But nothing kills more women each year than cardiovascular disease, which the American Heart Association notes causes one in three deaths of women each year.

That cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women each year is not the only surprising fact in regard to women and heart health. The following are some additional interesting facts, courtesy of the American Heart Association and other sources.

• The 2019 Global Burden of Disease study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated there are 275 million women around the world with cardiovascular disease.

• Awareness among women regarding the threat posed by heart disease has decreased dramatically in recent years. In 2020, a special report from the AHA indicated that, in 2009, 65 percent of women were aware that heart disease is their leading cause of death. By 2019, that figure had dropped to 44 percent.

• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms. The AHA notes that could be linked to a host of variables, including obesity. Data from a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that examined pregnancies in 48 states and the District of Columbia found that pre-pregnancy obesity increased by 8 percent between 2011 and 2015. During that same period, severe pre-pregnancy obesity increased by 14 percent. Obesity is considered a significant risk factor for heart disease.

• The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada reports that the No. 1 cause of premature death in women in Canada is heart disease and stroke.

• More than half of all high blood pressure deaths are in women. The AHA reports that nearly 52 percent of deaths caused by hypertension (high blood pressure) occur in women.

• Nearly 58 percent of Black women have hypertension. That’s the highest percentage among women of any race or ethnicity.

• Despite the significant percentage of global heart disease deaths affecting women, a 2021 study published in the journal The Lancet found that cardiovascular disease in women is understudied, under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.

• The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre reports that menopause before the age of 45 is linked to a 50 percent higher risk of heart disease.

• The World Health Organization reports that one-third of all ischaemic heart disease diagnoses across the globe are attributable to high cholesterol. According to the CWHHC, one in two women have elevated cholesterol.

• A 2017 study of more than 19,000 people who had cardiac events found that only 39 percent of women received CPR from bystanders in public compared to 45 percent of men. Researchers linked that disparity to fears of being accused of inappropriate touching, potential lawsuits and concerns that administering CPR to women could cause physical injury.

American adults’ hearts are much older than they should be

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average adult in the United States has a heart that is seven years older than it should be. “Heart age” is a metric used by the CDC to determine if an individual is at greater risk for heart disease than they should be at any given point during their adults lives. Factors such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, whether or not a person smokes or has smoked in the past, and if that person has diabetes all help to determine heart age. The CDC indicates that millions of people in their 40s and 50s who live in the United States have high blood pressure and more than 35 million U.S. adults are current smokers. Those variables increase heart age, making individuals more vulnerable to heart disease even in middle-age. Individuals interested in getting an estimate of their heart age can visit the Heart Foundation at heartfoundation.org.au/heartage-calculator. Adults also are urged to speak with their physicians about their risk for heart disease and what they can do to lower that risk.

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Cats Can Hide Illness Symptoms, So Be Aware

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat Sisko became very unaffectionate a few days ago. He hid under the bed or crouched in the corner of the living room and refused to cuddle. Then I noticed when he sat in the litter box that he meowed as if he was in distress. I called the veterinarian, and they had me bring him right in. Turns out that Sisko had a urinary tract infection! He’s doing fine now, but I wanted to tell my story so that other readers will know that a sudden behavior change in their cat could be a medical problem. — Kurt W., Parsippany, New Jersey

DEAR KURT: Thank you for sharing! You did absolutely the right thing: You noticed a sudden change in your cat’s behavior, kept a closer eye on his activities and litter habits, and contacted the vet’s office to share your observations and get advice.

Cats are very secretive about their health. It’s an instinctive behavior that helped their ancestors hide from predators. So it is common for owners not to notice when their cat is experiencing pain, such as a sore tooth or an illness like a urinary tract infection. While the occasional hairball episode isn’t a cause for concern, there are some symptoms that should prompt a call to the vet for an appointment.

— Your cat acts withdrawn, sits hunched over, refuses to play or be petted.

— Eating or drinking habits change.

— Litter box behavior changes: meowing, missing the box or noticeable diarrhea.

— Grooming problems develop, or they have clumpy fur or irritated skin.

— Physical symptoms: eye or ear discharge, strange breathing, unusual vomiting, lethargy or drooling.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

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