Heart Disease: Sex-Related Differences in Presentation and Treatment

More and more research shows that men and women experience heart health--and heart attacks--very differently. This article explains why, addressing factors such as age, menopause and perimenopause, and breast cancer.

It’s long been clear, for instance, that before menopause, women are less likely to develop heart disease than men. This is thanks to the protection estrogen provides, and it’s a key reason why the average age for a heart attack is 64 for men but 72 for women. Women catch up quickly, though, making heart disease the leading cause of death for both sexes overall during non-pandemic times.

Note: This article does not discuss heart health for trans, non-binary, or agender populations.

SOURCE: AARP • AUTHOR: Meryl Davids Landau • LAST UPDATED: February 2, 2021