## Secret #1: Women's risk of heart disease varies by background 49 % of African-American women 20 years of age and older have heart disease, and they have a 50 % higher risk of heart failure compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic women, on the other hand, despite high rates of obesity and diabetes, are 25 % less likely to die of heart disease than women of European descent. However, in Brazil, for example, cardiovascular disease accounts for 22.4 % of deaths among women, which is slightly higher than the rate for men. ## Secret #2: Women are protected by hormones Estrogen and progesterone are dominant in women and affect heart health and overall body health. Because of these hormones, ===women of childbearing age have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease than men. But after menopause, when hormone levels drop, the odds equalize. ## Secret #3: There are purely female risk factors Women during pregnancy can develop pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure, which seriously increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some diseases of the female reproductive system, such as endometriosis, can also negatively affect heart health. A study by scientists at Brigham Health found that women under 40 with endometriosis were three times more likely to have heart attacks and chest pain compared to women of the same age without the disease. ## Secret #4: Signs of a heart attack in women are more likely to be atypical Women are more likely to have asymptomatic heart attacks, making it difficult to diagnose the problem in time and provide the necessary care. Only one in eight women complains of chest pain, which is a classic sign of a heart attack in men. More often, women feel severe fatigue or shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the abdomen, neck, and shoulders. ## Secret #5: Diabetes is more dangerous to a woman's heart Diabetic women are five times more likely to have heart failure and only two times more likely to die than non-diabetic women. Diabetic women are also more likely to die from coronary heart disease than men. In addition, diabetes can change the perception of pain, making them more likely to have a silent heart attack. ## Secret #6: Smoking is more harmful to a woman's cardiovascular system Numerous studies confirm that tobacco smoke has more negative effects for women than it does for men. Women have twice the risk of myocardial infarction and 57 % greater risk of coronary heart disease, even from just one cigarette a day. By comparison, it's 48 % higher in men. It is also much more difficult for women to quit smoking, especially during postmenopause due to hormonal changes.