New research shows that men may start developing heart disease earlier in their lives than do women.
Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is when the arteries in the heart start becoming “clogged” or “blocked.”
The clogging or blocking starts out little by little, gradually increasing over time.
The rate of increase is made faster by unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, illicit drug use, lack of exercise, overeating that leads to obesity, a high sodium diet and a junk food diet — even if that person remains thin.
Men Get Heart Disease Sooner than Do Women
A long-term study found that men reach a 5 percent risk of cardiovascular disease roughly seven years before women do.
Most of the difference comes from coronary heart disease, which drives heart attacks.
Stroke and heart failure tend to appear later, so the early gap is mainly linked to the arteries of the heart.
Men and women have similar heart health until about age 35. After that, men’s risk climbs faster, suggesting mid-30s is a key turning point for cardiovascular health.
How the Study Was Done
The research analyzed data from the CARDIA study, which followed more than 5,100 black and white adults from young adulthood into midlife.
Participants were healthy at the start, which allowed researchers to track when heart disease risk began to diverge between both genders.
Men reached a 5 percent rate of cardiovascular disease around age 50, while women reached the same level around 57.
For coronary artery disease specifically, men reached a 2 percent incidence more than a decade earlier than did women.
Traditional Risk Factors Don’t Tell the Whole Story
The team looked at common risk factors like high blood pressure, poor cholesterol, unstable blood sugar, and of course, smoking, diet, physical activity and weight.
Some factors, especially high blood pressure, explained part of the difference.
But overall, these measures didn’t fully account for why men develop heart disease sooner. Other biological or social influences likely play a role.
Are you around 35?
The study found that men and women have similar heart disease risk in their early 30s. Around 35, men’s risk begins to increase more quickly and stays higher through midlife.
Many heart disease screenings focus on people over 40. This study suggests that preventive care should start earlier to catch risk factors before they rise.
In fact, it’s never too early in life to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Preventive visits to doctors are done less by young men than by young women.
Women often have routine checkups due to gynecologic or obstetric care, while men may skip appointments for their heart or general health.
Even with sex differences, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women, well-surpassing any types of cancers.
Knowing that men’s risk rises earlier highlights the importance of prevention for everyone, starting in young adulthood.
