KNOW YOUR RISKS, WOMEN !
Heart Disease in Women: Know Your Risks and Protect Your Heart
Article written by Mollie Bowman
Heart disease is sometimes thought of as primarily a men’s health issue.
It isn’t.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 statistics, about 61.9 million U.S. women age 20 and older, or 44.1%, were living with some form of cardiovascular disease based on 2021–2023 data.
In 2023 alone, cardiovascular disease caused more than 433,000 deaths among females in the United States.
Knowing your personal risk factors can help you take action before heart disease becomes an emergency.
1. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
It often causes no obvious symptoms, which is why simply feeling healthy does not mean your blood pressure is normal.
Current American Heart Association blood pressure categories are:
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Normal: less than 120/80 mm Hg
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Elevated: 120–129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
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Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
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Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 mm Hg or higher
The 2025 AHA/ACC blood pressure guideline generally recommends a treatment goal of less than 130/80 mm Hg for adults, with individual considerations based on health and medical history.
Have your blood pressure checked regularly and talk with your healthcare professional about what your numbers mean.
2. Cholesterol
Cholesterol is necessary for normal body functions, but too much cholesterol circulating in the blood can contribute to plaque buildup inside the arteries.
That plaque can narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
You’ve probably heard cholesterol described as:
-
LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol
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HDL, often called “good” cholesterol
But cardiovascular risk is more complicated than simply comparing those two numbers.
Your healthcare professional may also consider total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, family history, age, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and other factors when estimating your overall risk.
The important thing is to know your numbers rather than assuming cholesterol is only a concern for older adults.
3. Smoking, Vaping and Nicotine
Smoking significantly increases cardiovascular risk.
Tobacco smoke damages blood vessels, promotes plaque buildup, raises the risk of blood clots, and increases the likelihood of heart attack and stroke.
Avoiding nicotine exposure is one of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 measures for cardiovascular health.
If you smoke or use nicotine products, quitting is one of the most important steps you can take for your heart.
4. Diabetes and Blood Sugar
Diabetes substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Over time, elevated blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves that help control the heart.
Women with diabetes should work closely with their healthcare professionals to manage blood sugar while also paying attention to blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, physical activity, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Even if you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, routine screening can identify prediabetes before it progresses.
5. Physical Inactivity
Regular movement benefits your heart, blood vessels, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, sleep, and weight.
The American Heart Association recommends most adults work toward approximately:
150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week
or
75 minutes of vigorous activity per week
You don’t have to become a marathon runner.
Walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, gardening, and other activities all count. The goal is to move more and spend less time sitting.
6. Weight and Overall Metabolic Health
Excess body weight can increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, diabetes, unhealthy cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, and other conditions associated with cardiovascular disease.
But weight should not be viewed in isolation.
A better approach is to look at your overall cardiovascular health, including eating habits, physical activity, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, nicotine exposure, and sleep.
Small, sustainable improvements are usually more useful than extreme diets or short-term fixes.
7. Family History and Genetics
You cannot change your genes, but you can use family history as an early warning sign.
Tell your healthcare professional if a parent, sibling, or other close relative developed heart disease or suffered a heart attack at a relatively young age.
Inherited conditions can also affect cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors.
A strong family history makes controlling the risk factors you can change even more important.
8. Pregnancy History Matters
A woman’s cardiovascular history does not begin at menopause.
Pregnancy can provide important clues about future heart health.
Women who have experienced certain pregnancy complications, including:
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High blood pressure during pregnancy
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Preeclampsia
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Gestational diabetes
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Preterm delivery
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Other adverse pregnancy outcomes
may have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
If you have experienced pregnancy complications, make sure they remain part of your medical history even years after the pregnancy.
9. Menopause and Perimenopause
Cardiovascular risk can change as women approach menopause.
Hormonal changes are accompanied by shifts in factors such as cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body composition.
Research published in 2026 highlighted perimenopause as an important opportunity to reassess cardiovascular risk rather than waiting until heart disease develops.
Women should continue regular screening throughout adulthood, but the years surrounding menopause are a particularly good time to review blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight, physical activity, and family history.
10. Sleep Matters Too
Sleep wasn’t discussed nearly as much in older heart-health advice.
Today, it is.
The American Heart Association includes healthy sleep in its Life’s Essential 8 measures of cardiovascular health.
For most adults, aiming for about 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is recommended.
Poor sleep can affect blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, stress, and other factors tied to cardiovascular health.
A Simple Heart-Health Checklist for Women
The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 provides a useful framework:
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Eat better
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Be more active
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Avoid nicotine
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Get healthy sleep
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Manage weight
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Control cholesterol
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Manage blood sugar
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Manage blood pressure
You don’t have to perfect all eight overnight.
Knowing where you stand gives you somewhere to begin.
Women Should Also Know the Signs of a Heart Attack
Risk prevention matters, but so does recognizing an emergency.
Heart attack symptoms in women can include:
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Chest pressure, squeezing, fullness, or discomfort
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Shortness of breath
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Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
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Nausea
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Cold sweat
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Lightheadedness
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Unusual fatigue or weakness
Not every heart attack looks like the dramatic chest-clutching scene seen in movies.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Know Your Risks Before an Emergency Happens
Heart disease does not suddenly become important at age 65.
Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, pregnancy history, sleep, menopause, and family history can influence cardiovascular risk across a woman’s lifetime.
Schedule regular checkups, know your numbers, and talk with your healthcare professional about your personal risk.
And because cardiac emergencies can happen anywhere, learning CPR and how to use an AED can prepare you to help someone else when every minute matters.
Find an Upcoming CPR Class Near You
In-Pulse CPR offers hands-on American Heart Association CPR, BLS, AED, and First Aid training at convenient locations.
Updated 2026: This article was originally written by Mollie Bowman and published February 8, 2010. It has been substantially revised in 2026 with current American Heart Association information on cardiovascular disease in women, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, pregnancy-related risk, menopause, lifestyle factors, and heart-health prevention.
