THE FUSE

There’s a common misconception that only men need to worry about heart disease, but the truth is, women face an equally serious risk. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States—for both men and women. It can affect women at any age, but there are some life stages and health conditions that can significantly raise the the risk, including menopause (especially early menopause), autoimmune conditions like lupus, hormonal conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, and pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.