Age-Related Heart Disease Risk

Featuring Dr. Brett Heilbron, MD, FRCPC, Cardiologist
Duration: 1 minute

It's a common misperception that more men than women die of cardiovascular disease, when in fact actually more women than men die from heart disease. But I think the main difference is that women tend to present later, on average about eight to ten years later.

What we see in practice is that women often present in a kind of catch-up phase after menopause where they have a higher risk for a number of years to the point where the actual overall risk is quite similar to that of men in the long run.

I think it's important for both men and women to pay attention to their risk factors. From an early age, certainly men tend to present earlier, so it's even more important that they pay attention to their factors well before they're in their 60s and 70s, but it's important for women not to be complacent either.

If you have questions about your heart health, contact your local physician or cardiologist.

Presenter: Dr. Brett Heilbron, Cardiologist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Cardiologist