HEART DISEASE
More women die from heart disease than men. In 2001,
women under age 45 experienced higher rates of heart disease
than
men of the same age (49.7 vs. 27.9 per 1,000 population,
respectively). However, with increased age, the rates reversed;
climbing to 248.0 for men and 179.5 for women aged 75 and
older.
Differences in heart disease among various racial
and ethnic groups may be due to the difference in age
distributions of these populations. In 2001, non-Hispanic
White women
exhibited the highest rates of heart disease and were
twice as likely
as Hispanic women to be diagnosed with the condition. High blood pressure, obesity, and smoking are significant
risk factors for developing heart disease. Health professionals
recommend modifying behaviors such as smoking, diet, and
exercise to prevent the onset or further progression of
the disease.
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