Women's hearts: understanding the risks for more effective prevention

In France, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for women, with around 75,000 deaths each year. Yet it is estimated that 8 out of 10 deaths could be avoided by regular medical check-ups and a healthy lifestyle. 

For a while, it was thought that cardiovascular diseases affected mainly men, but it now also affects a large number of women. This fact is still not acknowledged enough, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. 

Women are increasingly affected at an earlier age, from their forties onwards. This trend can be explained in part by lifestyle changes such as smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight and stress, all of which have a negative impact on cardiovascular health. 

Specific risk factors 

Women and men share the primary risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, physical inactivity, etc. However, these factors can have a different impact depending on the gender. After the age of 45, more than 80% of women have at least two cardiovascular risk factors, some of which have a greater impact on them in particular. 

There are also risk factors specific to women, linked to the different hormonal stages of life: contraception, pregnancy and menopause.  

Other conditions such as migraines with aura, endometriosis, cycle disorders, autoimmune diseases and certain breast cancer treatments may also play a role. 

General practitioners and gynaecologists play an essential role in identifying women at risk, and if necessary, referring them to a cardiologist for appropriate follow-up. 

Finally, it’s important to stress that the warning signs in women are sometimes different from those in men, which can complicate the diagnosis. Greater awareness of these specific elements could help improve prevention, screening and treatment procedures.