Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms
and Risk Factors

Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Risk Factors and Prevention Section 5

Diet is an important risk factor. Having a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol will increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. After the age of 20, women’s cholesterol starts to rise and rises sharply between ages 40-60. Keeping a diet low in saturated fat is therefore important for women at any age.

Inherited factors may play a role in how the body handles cholesterol. Just eating right might therefore sometimes not be enough to prevent heart and cardiovascular disease. (NWHIC, 2002)

Alcohol consumption is a topic that has been popular in the media. It is not a direct risk factor for heart disease, though it may even lower levels of LDL in some people, but drinking in abundance increases blood pressure which in turn could lead to heart disease.

Moderation is the key to drinking, especially in women who metabolize alcohol differently than men. Women who take oral contraceptives (OC) are advised not to smoke and rightly so. The risk of coronary heart disease in non-smoking premenopausal women who take OC is twice that of those who do not.

The risk is however 13 times greater for women who smoke and take OC. (Chesney & Nealey, 1996) The OC pills of today have a much lower dosage then those of the past and the risks are minimal unless you smoke or have high blood pressure.

In Canada in 1996, 48% of women smokers aged 18 to 24 and 23% aged 25 to 34, also took OC, thus increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease. (Health Canada, 2002) Being informed of the risks will help prevent aversive affects.

Next Section >>