Heart disease is the cause of death for one out of five women in the U.S., and is developing in younger women at an alarming rate. Employers who understand the risk factors can make sure they have the necessary benefits and support to counteract this troubling trend.
Forty-four percent of women over 20 already have some form of clinical cardiovascular disease, or CVD, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Despite its prevalence, half of women are not aware that it is the leading cause of death among their gender, as well as the number one cause of pregnancy-related deaths, according to the Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH). Their research shows an even more dire outlook for women of color, with Black women having a 50% higher risk for heart failure than white women.
