WHITE PAPER ABSTRACT: Women and Cardiovascular Disease

Soroptimist International of the Americas, working to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world, examines the issue of women and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this white paper. CVD is the number one cause of death in women worldwide, causing 8.6 million deaths annually. In the United States, heart disease and stroke cause nearly twice as many deaths for women than those caused by all cancers combined, including breast cancer. However, heart disease continues to be categorized as a “man’s disease” and is often misdiagnosed or overlooked in women. Heart disease presents itself differently in women than men and often needs different types of treatment, but only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies are women. In order for women to receive the medical care and treatment they need and deserve, both the medical community and women need to be better educated. In addition, it is also critical that women take control of their health by knowing their risk factors and communicating these factors with their doctor.

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