Who Does Heart Disease Affect?

Heart disease is a major cause of death among Americans. Heart disease can affect anyone at any age; however, it is most common among obese or diabetic individuals and is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. There are also risk factors that may increase an individual's chances of developing heart disease such as smoking.

Women

• Heart disease is the primary killer of women in the United States, accounting for more than 27 percent of female mortality, according to a 2004 census conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. Women also experience heart disease differently than men. Instead of chest pain, women often experience pain in the jaw or lower back. Shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms of heart disease in women. Of all women, those who are elderly, post-menopausal or have diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing heart disease.

The Obese

• Obesity is recognized as a leading cause of coronary heart disease. It raises blood pressure and cholesterol as well as the number of triglycerides (constituents of vegetable oil and animal fats) in the blood. These symptoms may weaken the heart over time, leaving it prone to failure or disease. Obesity also endangers the gallbladder and joints and may induce diabetes, which itself is a risk factor for heart disease.

The Diabetic

• Diabetes is a disease that causes an inability to properly metabolize glucose. It is commonly associated with several blood and circulation complications, including poor blood flow to the extremities and kidney disease. Diabetes may also cause a thickening in the lining of the blood vessels (known as atherosclerosis), resulting in hindered blood flow and the possibility of stroke. Changes such as these in the blood vessels significantly raise an individual's chances of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The Elderly

• A person's chances of developing heart disease increases as he ages. This is primarily due to a normal, gradual weakening of the heart muscles and arteries. A high number of individuals over the age of 65 suffer debilitation or death due to heart diseases like cardiac arrest.

Smokers

• Smoking nicotine-based products like cigarettes greatly increases one's chances of developing heart disease. Nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, and carbon monoxide produced by smoking utensils may weaken the arterial walls. As a result, individuals who smoke are at a higher risk of atherosclerosis and arterial ruptures (known as occlusions) that may result in aneurysms or cardiac arrest.