Part 1: Discrepancies Between Men and Women with Heart Disease

I started researching one topic but fell down a rabbit hole and discovered far more that I gotta share, so this is a two-parter

Photo by Designecologist — Image Source: Pexels

Quick Note: When I use the term “woman” in this article, I’m referring to anyone who menstruates, but I acknowledge that not all people who menstruate identify as women and not all people who identify as women menstruate.

While several cardiovascular diseases exist, they’re often collectively known as “heart disease.” A common aspect of heart disease involves cholesterol and fats accumulating as plaque in the heart’s arteries. This plaque build-up restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the cardiac muscle, weakening it over time and leading to heart failure, such as a heart attack.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for adults in the United States (and the world). Recent research found that while women are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease less often than men, they have a higher rate of death from it. Yet, males are diagnosed and treated for it significantly more often than females.

A Man’s Disease?

Experts know much more about heart disease now than a century ago. Back then, so little was known…