After menopause, the risk of a heart attack goes up steadily. Generally, the incidence in heart attack rises in both sexes with advancing age. However, the rate of increase is greater in women after age of 50 than in men. As a result, the ratio of heart attacks in women to men after 50 decreases to 2:1 by age 65 and 1:1 by age 80.
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In addition, the first heart attack is more likely to be fatal for women than for men. Oestrogen decrease is thought to cause unfavourable changes in levels of cholesterol and other blood lipids (fats), and in fibrinogen (a substance that affects blood clotting). These changes may increase risk of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women.
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