Heart disease and women

Injury	Diseases	Nutrition	Poison
Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Acute MI

Heart, front view

Overview

Prevention

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Keep blood pressure under 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure drugs should be used when blood pressure is higher than 140/90 mmHg. (Persons with diabetes may need medication at lower levels.)

New guidelines do not recommend antioxidant supplements or folic acid to prevent heart disease in women.

Aspirin therapy (dose 75 mg to 325 mg a day) or a drug called clopidogrel may be prescribed for women at high risk for heart disease. Aspirin therapy is recommended for women over age 65 to prevent heart attack and stroke as long as blood pressure is controlled and the benefit is likely to outweigh the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Regular use of aspirin is not recommended for healthy women under age 65 to prevent heart attacks.

For more information about the treatment of heart disease, see:

See also:

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Review Date: 05/22/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).