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Heart Disease & Stroke Risk Statistics |
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| High Blood Pressure |
- High blood pressure is a more prevalent cause of death in women than men.
- 31.9% of non-Hispanic white females have high blood pressure, compared with 32.5% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 46.6% of non-Hispanic black females have high blood pressure, compared with 42.6% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 31.4% of Mexican-American females have high blood pressure, compared with 28.7% of males.
- High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke. More men than women have high blood until age 45. From age 45 to 54, the percentage of women with high blood pressure becomes slightly higher than males.
- High blood pressure is two to three times more common in women taking oral contraceptives, especially those who are older and obese, than in women not taking them.
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| Smoking |
- 18.5% of American women age 18 and older are smokers, putting them at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
- 20.4% of non-Hispanic white females smoke, compared with 24.1 percent of males (Americans age 18 or older).
- 17.2% of non-Hispanic black females smoke, compared with 23.9% of males (Americans age 18 or older)..
- 10.9% of Hispanic females smoke, compared with 18.9% of males (Americans age 18 or older).
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| Cholesterol |
- The risk of heart attack in both men and women is much higher when they have lower HDL cholesterol levels (below 40 mg/dL) and higher total cholesterol levels (above 240 mg/dL) than when they have one of these two risk factors.
- 49.7% of non-Hispanic white females have total blood cholesterol levels of 200mg/dL or higher, compared with 47.9% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 42.1% of non-Hispanic black females have total blood cholesterol levels of 200mg/dL or higher, compared with 44.8% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 50% of Mexican-American females have total blood cholesterol levels of 200mg/dL or higher, compared with 49.9% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
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| Physical Inactivity |
- Physical inactivity is more common among women than men, among blacks and Hispanics than whites, among older than younger adults and among the less affluent than the more affluent.
- A study of over 72,000 female nurses indicates that moderate-intensity physical activity such as walking is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of stroke when compared with physical activity done at an average or casual pace.
- 21.6% of non-Hispanic white females are physically inactive, compared with 18.4% of males (Americans age 18 or older).
- 33.9% of non-Hispanic black females are physically inactive, compared with 27.0% of males (Americans age 18 or older).
- 39.6% of Hispanic females are physically inactive, compared with 32.5% of males (Americans age 18 or older).
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| Overweight and Obesity |
- 57.6% of non-Hispanic white females are overweight or obese, compared with 71% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 79.6% of non-Hispanic black females are overweight or obese, compared with 67% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 73% of Mexican-American females are overweight or obese, compared with 74.6% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 38.9% of Hispanics or Latinos age 18 and older are overweight and 24.7 are obese.
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| Diabetes |
- At least 65% of people with diabetes will die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
- Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times higher that those for adults without diabetes. the risk for stroke is two to four times higher as well. The age-adjusted prevalence of major cardiovascular disease for women with diabetes is twice that for women without diabetes. The age-adjusted major cardiovascular disease hospital discharge rate for women with diabetes is almost four times the rate for women without diabetes.
- 5.6% of non-Hispanic white females have physician-diagnosed diabetes, compared with 6.7% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 13.2% of non-Hispanic black females have physician-diagnosed diabetes, compared with 10.7% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
- 10.9% of Mexican-American females have physician-diagnosed diabetes, compared with 11% of males (Americans age 20 or older).
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Sources:
American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2007 Update
American Heart Association Biostatistical Fact Sheet, "Women and Cardiovascular Disease"
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