Did you know? Women, Hormones, and Heart Risk

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  • AdventHealth Research Institute
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Heart disease is often thought of as a “man’s disease,” but it remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. We asked Katie Love, MD, MSc, an investigator at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute, why many women underestimate their risk.

Before menopause, the hormone estrogen does offer some protection against cardiovascular disease. But Dr. Love explains that protection can disappear much earlier in women with certain medical conditions. Diseases such as diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), chronic kidney disease, or prior cardiovascular disease can dramatically increase a woman’s risk, even before menopause, essentially erasing estrogen’s protective effect.

Other factors that raise risk include early menopause, autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of early heart disease.

Some of the most important warning signs may appear during life stages unique to women. Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or pregnancy-related high blood pressure are now recognized as predictors of future cardiovascular disease. Research also shows that women who experience frequent hot flashes during menopause may face a higher long-term risk of heart disease.

Despite these risks, studies suggest women often receive less aggressive treatment for high blood pressure and cholesterol than men—even when they already have conditions like diabetes or known heart disease.

The stakes are growing. According to projections from the American Heart Association, the percentage of women living with stroke or cardiovascular disease is expected to rise from 10.4% in 2020 to 14.4% by 2050, driven in part by rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

Katie Love, MD, MSc
Dr. Love is an Associate Investigator at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute, where her research focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic risk in women across the lifespan, particularly those with diabetes

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