In community education about cardiovascular disease, which statement about women is correct?

In community education about cardiovascular disease, which statement about women is correct?

• A. Breast cancer kills more women than heart disease.
• B. A woman of 70 is as likely as a man to develop heart disease.
• C. Women are more likely than men to develop heart disease in their middle years.
• D. For most women, heart disease is a greater problem before menopause.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how heart disease risk in women changes with age and menopause. Estrogen gives some protection before menopause, so women have lower risk in middle age. After menopause, that protection fades and risk rises, so as women age, their risk climbs toward the level seen in men. By about age 70, a woman’s likelihood of having developed heart disease is roughly equal to a man’s, which is why that statement is correct. Breast cancer is a major health issue for women, but heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, not a greater killer. In middle age, men generally have a higher risk than women, and heart disease is not more problematic for most women before menopause.

The key idea is how heart disease risk in women changes with age and menopause. Estrogen gives some protection before menopause, so women have lower risk in middle age. After menopause, that protection fades and risk rises, so as women age, their risk climbs toward the level seen in men. By about age 70, a woman’s likelihood of having developed heart disease is roughly equal to a man’s, which is why that statement is correct.

Breast cancer is a major health issue for women, but heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, not a greater killer. In middle age, men generally have a higher risk than women, and heart disease is not more problematic for most women before menopause.