New research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in March 2025 sheds important light on women’s heart health. It shows that lifestyle habits—how we eat, move, sleep, and manage blood pressure—have an even greater impact on women’s hearts than they do on men’s.
Even though women often have fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors earlier in midlife, when issues like high blood sugar, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, or poor sleep appear, they tend to carry a greater relative risk for heart disease compared to men. In other words, the same risk factors can be more harmful for women than for men over time.
This finding is especially important as women move through perimenopause and menopause, when natural hormonal changes can affect blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, weight distribution, and sleep—all of which are closely tied to cardiovascular health.
It’s not about blame—it’s about biology. Knowing this gives us a powerful opportunity: we can take action in ways that truly protect our cardiovascular health.
The best part? You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do everything all at once.
Research consistently shows that small, consistent changes make a real difference over time. Adding a few more vegetables to your meals, walking after dinner, setting a consistent sleep schedule—these steps might seem small in the moment, but they build momentum. Over time, they contribute to cardiovascular health, improve your energy levels, and elevate your overall well-being.
Midlife is an opportunity to focus on what matters most.
By making your heart health a priority now, you’re investing in the energy, resilience, and vitality you’ll need for all the things you love—today and for years to come.
By Dr. Jen Burke
MD, CAQSM, DipABLM, NBC-HWC
References
• American Heart Association – Life’s Essential 8: heart.org/lifesessential8
• The Menopause Society: menopause.org
• WomenHeart: womenheart.org
• American College of Cardiology. “Lifestyle risks weigh heavier on women’s hearts.” ScienceDaily, March 18, 2025. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/