Heart Disease: Key Q&A

What is the difference between heart disease and coronary artery disease?
Heart disease can be a general term referring to any condition that affects the heart. However, it usually refers to a condition known as coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is a chronic disease in which the coronary arteries gradually harden and narrow (a process known as atherosclerosis).

What are the symptoms of CAD?
Symptoms typically associated with CAD include chest pain and shortness of breath, especially after stress or exercise. Women with CAD may experience breast pain or a feeling of indigestion in the upper abdomen. However, as many as half of people have no symptoms, despite the presence of CAD. The absence of chest pain or other common symptoms can set the stage for a heart attack that occurs without warning.

What is the relationship between cholesterol and cardiovascular disease?
Elevated cholesterol levels put people at risk for both heart disease and stroke. According to the American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics ‑- 2005 Update, more than 56 million American women have borderline to high cholesterol levels.

Does menopause have any effect on heart disease risk?
Women usually have higher levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) prior to menopause because estrogen (the female sex hormone) raises them. Therefore, women are particularly at risk for heart disease after menopause, when their estrogen levels decline and HDL drops. In addition, LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels increase at menopause.

Does it matter if I smoke?
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death among women. According to the American Lung Association, more than 178,000 women die in the United States due to tobacco use each year. Research has also shown that women who smoke are at significantly greater risk of developing heart disease than women who do not.

How quickly does CAD develop?
CAD is a gradual process. First, fatty plaque narrows the coronary arteries. Next, the plaque calcifies, causing the arteries to become harder and stiffer. Untreated, CAD usually continues to worsen.

What sort of diet can I eat to lower my risk of heart disease?
A heart-healthy eating plan includes a wide variety of foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet often includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish, legumes (beans), poultry and lean meats. It is also important to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by balancing energy intake (calories eaten) with energy needs.