Women's Blood Pressure Rises Earlier, Faster Than Men's

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 -- Popular media often portrays heart disease as a man's problem, but new research suggests that women's blood vessels actually age faster than men's do.

The new study found that blood pressure started increasing in women as early as the third decade of life, and it continued to rise higher than blood pressure in men throughout the life span.

AHA News: High Blood Pressure, Unhealthy Diets in Women of Childbearing Age

MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- One in five women of childbearing age has high blood pressure, according to a new study that found few of these women are on a diet that could help them – and their babies – reduce their risk for health problems.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal death. Nearly 40% of maternal deaths from any cause are associated with hypertension.

Some Jobs Are Better for Women's Hearts Than Others

TUESDAY, Nov. 12, 2019 -- Could your chosen profession determine the health of your heart?

It could certainly have an influence, new research suggests.

Diabetes Tougher on Women's Hearts

MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2019 -- Diabetes might be more deadly for women than men, at least when it comes to heart troubles, new research shows.

Heart disease occurs an average of 15 years earlier in people with diabetes, and is their main cause of illness and death. In women, the connection between diabetes and heart disease is particularly strong.

High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Tied to Future Heart Risks

FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2019 -- Pregnancy-related high blood pressure puts women at higher risk of heart disease later on, new research suggests.

In the study, researchers analyzed an average of seven years of follow-up data on more than 220,000 women in the United Kingdom. Those who had gestational high blood pressure or preeclampsia in at least one pregnancy had stiffer arteries, and two to five times the rate of chronic high blood pressure later on, the findings showed.

AHA News: Could Mammograms Screen for Heart Disease?

MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- By screening for breast cancer, mammography has helped save hundreds of thousands of lives. Using the test to also screen for heart disease might someday help save many thousands more.

Though expert guidelines vary, generally women are advised to have a mammogram every year or two starting at age 40 or 50. Nearly 40 million mammograms have been performed in the U.S. during the past year, government figures show.