Cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women: myths and reality.

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) has traditionally been considered a disease that affects middle-aged men, it also has a profound effect on women. By age 65, the number of deaths from CVD in women surpasses deaths in men by 11%. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women. Despite the impact of CVD, women as a group, as well as healthcare professionals, have not focused on this disease entity. As a result, women may not make adjustments that could reduce their risk for CVD, and healthcare professionals may not adequately counsel women on risk modification, which may include lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical intervention. Although there are many similarities, women differ from men in both disease presentation and prognosis for CVD. Because of the difference in presentation, diagnoses in women may be delayed, potentially causing further harm. Although the number of deaths caused by CVD has been decreasing in men, this trend has yet to be observed in women.