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Part 2: Investigating Why Fewer Women Take Statins Compared to Men
Even though heart disease is the number one cause of death for males and females, males are prescribed life-saving medication more often
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.
In part one of this article, we dove into some history of heart disease, and the discrimination and bias the medical community and American society had about who experiences heart disease. While less severe, gender and sex bias continues into the 21st century, even though heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women.
On the plus side, deaths from heart disease have dramatically fallen over the last 30 years (for both sexes), thanks in large part to a group of prescription medications collectively known as statins. Typically a lifelong treatment, statins are proven to be so effective at reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases that current guidelines recommend statin therapy for all adult patients with coronary heart disease, regardless of sex.
