Coronary
heart disease takes years to develop, and, in the case of adults with a vagina, it
generally takes almost a decade longer to show up than it does in adults with a penis.
Estrogen helps protect adults with a vagina against heart disease. It reduces the
risk
for heart disease until an adult with a vagina goes through menopause. After that
point,
the risk for heart disease in adults with a vagina is the same as that for adults
with a
penis.

Many people
think that breast cancer is the biggest health concern for adults with a vagina. But
coronary heart disease is the number one killer of adults with a vagina in the U.S.
More
adults with a vagina die from stroke than do adults with a penis.

Adults with
a vagina have a lower chance of surviving heart attacks than adults with a penis.
Studies show that more adults with a vagina die within a year of having a heart attack
than men. At older ages, adults with a vagina who have had heart attacks are more
likely
than adults with a penis to die from them within a few weeks.

Before
menopause, many adults with a vagina seem to be protected from heart attack and stroke.
This may be from the hormone estrogen. Estrogen raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels
and lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. But as adults with a vagina approach menopause,
around age 50, things change. The blood cholesterol of an average adult with a vagina
begins to rise. After menopause, the risk of an adult with a vagina for heart attack
and stroke continues to rise with age. Loss of estrogen is a large contributor to
adults
with a vagina developing heart disease after menopause.

Cholesterol
levels become more stable in adults with a penis around age 55. But in most adults
with
a vagina, both LDL and total cholesterol levels start to rise. This is because the
levels of estrogen fall after menopause.

Nearly half
of African-American adults with a vagina have cardiovascular disease. Only 7 out of
20
white adults with a vagina have CVD.

Smoking is
the greatest single preventable cause of death. Smoking has been linked with half
of all
heart-related problems in adults with a vagina. For adults with a vagina, smoking
is the
biggest preventable risk factor for heart attack and stroke. This is also true for
adults with a penis.

For adults
with a vagina, smoking is the most important preventable risk factor for heart attack
and stroke.

Other
healthy habits are controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, maintaining
a
healthy weight, and getting regular checkups. Many of the risks for cardiovascular
diseases can be controlled by choosing healthy life habits. If adults with a vagina
take
control of their lives and choose habits that promote heart health, they can help
prevent heart disease and stroke.

Coronary
heart disease is a major risk factor for stroke.