- Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries narrow due to a sticky buildup of plaque deposits.
- Researchers say women over the age of 55 with this condition are at a higher risk of a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack than men in the same age group.
- Experts say women of all ages can improve their cardiovascular health by maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as by not smoking.
Postmenopausal women who have clogged arteries are at higher risk of heart attack than men who are the same age.
That’s according to research being presented at the scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology that was published recently in the European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging.
In their study, researchers said they found that having plaque is more dangerous in women who are postmenopausal compared to men of the same age.
“The study suggests that a given burden of atherosclerosis is riskier in postmenopausal women than it is in men of that age,” Dr. Sophie van Rosendael, an author of the study and a researcher at Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands said, in a press statement.
“Since atherosclerotic plaque burden is emerging as a target to decide the intensity of therapy to prevent heart attacks, the findings may impact treatment,” she added. “Our results indicate that after menopause, women may need a higher dose of statins or the addition of another lipid-lowering drug. More studies are needed to confirm these findings.”
The study involved nearly 25,000 people across six countries in North America, Europe, and Asia.
An imaging technique called coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was used to capture 3D images of the arteries in the heart.
Atherosclerosis is when the arteries narrow due to a build of sticky deposits of plaque.
In the United States, it’s estimated that about
Read the full article here