Men generally have a higher risk of heart disease than women, with the difference being due to biological, hormonal and lifestyle factors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause approximately 17.9 million deaths annually, and men are more affected at younger ages than women.

A combination of hormonal protection, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions explains why men are more prone to heart disease than women, especially in their early years.

Hormonal differences play an important role in heart disease susceptibility. Estrogen, the major hormone in women before menopause, has protective effects on the heart by improving cholesterol levels and maintaining flexible blood vessels.

Men, on the other hand, lack this benefit and are more likely to develop heart problems earlier. After menopause, the risk increases in women but generally lags behind men by about 10 years.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet and sedentary behavior also contribute to increased chances of heart disease in men.

Dr. D said, “Smoking speeds up the clogging and narrowing of the coronary arteries. Plaque accumulation inside the coronary arteries reduces blood flow to the heart and increases the risk of heart attack. Men Smoke more than women.” Of. Jhamb, Director and Head of Department, Department of Interventional Cardiology, Shalbi Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram.

According to a report by the American Heart Association (AHA), men smoke more and consume more alcohol than women, both of which increase the risk of heart disease.

Additionally, men are more likely to have high-stress jobs, which is another risk factor for heart disease.

Dr. Jhamb said, “There may be an inherent gender bias in how men deal with stress. When you undergo stress for a long time, you make yourself vulnerable to diseases like high blood pressure. “Can restrict blood flow to the heart.”

Genetics also play a role. Studies show that men tend to accumulate visceral fat (fat around the organs), which is more harmful than subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin).

This visceral fat increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and other conditions that cause heart disease.

A study published in The Lancet showed that men are more likely to have a heart attack at a younger age, with about 70% of first heart attack cases occurring in men.

Men also have higher levels of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), which causes blockage in the arteries.