Heart Disease May Hit 1 in 3 Young Women by 2050 as Risks Rise Earlier
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 6
Heart Disease May Hit 1 in 3 Young Women by 2050 as Risks Rise Earlier
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 6
Summary
Nearly one-third of women ages 20 to 44 are projected to have heart disease by 2050, up from about one-fourth today, with deaths also rising among younger women.
Obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are becoming more common at younger ages, and research suggests those risks can damage women’s hearts more than men’s.
Women under 55 are more likely to die from heart attacks than men the same age, while high blood pressure in young women is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Doctors say routine checks of blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, body-mass index and hemoglobin A1C can help lower risk, with targets including blood pressure below 120/80 and A1C at 5.6 or lower.