Smoking increases heart attacks in women

Studies have shown that women get heart disease much later than men but not if they smoke. Studies are showing that women who smoke have heart attacks 12 years earlier than women who smoke while men who smoke have heart attacks only 6 years earlier than men who smoke.

Women who smoke, provided they have no other health problems, could have their first heart attack at age 66 rather at age 81; the age for women who don’t smoke. Studies have shown that estrogen may protect women from heart attacks but as they age and go through menopause, estrogen decreases leaving then at risk for heart disease; smoking increases that risk.

This is another good reason for women to stop smoking. The earlier they stop and start eating better and exercising, they may decrease their chances of heart disease dramatically.