Heart diseases are the silent killers of millions of people around the world. These life-threatening diseases can strike anyone, regardless of age, sex, and gender. However, there is also a widespread assumption that men are more prone to heart diseases than women. Anecdotally, the belief rings true, too.
But are men more at risk of developing heart diseases than women? If yes, what makes them so? This blog moves beyond the assumption and looks at the facts to arrive at the truth. In this pursuit, we also seek inputs from the famous cardiac surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, to shed light on this debate, investigate reasons, and give prevention tips to reduce the risk.
So, is the assumption valid, or is it just a plain misconception? Read on to know:
Are men more likely to develop heart diseases than women?
According to extensive research by multiple studies worldwide, men are more prone to heart diseases than women.
An extensive study performed over three decades, from the 1970s to the 2010s, found that men are more prone to heart diseases than women. A 2016 study published by the American Medical Association went ahead and calculated the risk and found that men are almost twice as likely to develop coronary heart diseases as women.
But why are men more prone to heart disease than women?
Hormonal Differences: Women’s estrogen protects their cardiovascular system by managing the risk factors. This hormone is found to reduce inflammation, relax blood vessels, reduce cholesterol levels, and regulate blood pressure, which inherently decreases the risk of heart diseases significantly.
Age-related Differences in Heart Diseases:
“The risk of heart disease does not follow the same timeline in men and women, which is key to understanding the differences. Men usually tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than women and, as a result, are at more risk of complications. This also leads to the perception that men are more susceptible to heart diseases,” says heart transplant surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
Stress & Its Coping Mechanisms:
Stress is an underrated and silent reason that can heavily contribute to the development of heart diseases. While both men and women may face similar stress levels, the way they respond to this stress can differ, according to Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, one of the best cardiac surgeons in Telangana in treating heart diseases. For example, the “fight-or-flight” response to stress is more prevalent in men, increasing hypertension. Men are also more prone to coping mechanisms like alcohol, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyle factors.
Difference in Cholesterol & Their Build-up:
The cholesterol build-up, a major cause of heart disease, tends to differ between men and women. In men, cholesterol build-up starts at a younger age, which, as a result, contributes to heart disease in middle age. In addition, the levels of LDL, which contribute to heart diseases, tend to be higher in men than women. HDL cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease, is usually more elevated in women, further increasing the divide.
Biological Factors:
Plenty of biological factors further increase the risk of heart disease in men. Men are more prone to develop obesity and diabetes and have different blood clotting profiles and inflammation markers, contributing to heart disease development. Men are also more at risk of developing hypertension caused by stress, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of worldwide heart disease.
Men Face Greater Risk; Women Experience Silent Threats:
The most crucial difference is how heart disease manifests in men and women. “Heart disease symptoms in men tend to be chest pain. However, heart disease symptoms in women can be atypical, like vomiting, nausea, indigestion, or abdominal discomfort. So, women tend to ignore these signs and do not get the medical support needed. These diseases often may go under the radar,” says heart transplant surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
So, while men face a greater risk of heart disease, women face a silent risk, making it even more dangerous as delayed recognition can result in an advanced stage of the disease by the time a heart specialist diagnoses it. So, let this blog be a reminder that older adults must be regularly monitored for their heart health to identify heart diseases as early as possible for better treatment. If you are in Hyderabad and looking to consult a heart specialist, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale is the best cardiologist in Hyderabad, with a superior track record in detecting, treating, and reducing the risk of heart diseases.
