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Irregular heart beat more hazardous in women than in men
Vienna, Sep 02: An irregular heart beat is more common among men but much more hazardous when it occurs in women, new research indicates.
Vienna, Sep 02: An irregular heart beat is more common among men but much more hazardous when it occurs in women, new research indicates.
The first rigorous study to find a major gender difference in the problem found that women who have erratic heart rhythm, or atrial fibrillation, were more than four times more likely to suffer a stroke later than were men with the disorder.
The findings were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart rhythm abnormality. It is estimated to affect up to 2 per cent of all people, and up to 14 per cent of the elderly.
Symptoms include palpitations, breathlessness and tiredness; the major hazard is an increased risk of stroke. It is about three times more common among men than women.
Nearly 5.7 million Europeans are estimated to have atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the two small upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating properly. In the United States, about 2 million people have it.
"This (study) raises awareness of the impact of cardiovascular disease among women," said Dr Sidney Smith, a professor of cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"It's one more example that women are not protected from cardiovascular disease. We should do everything we can to dispel that myth that if you're a woman you don't need to worry."
The latest study was conducted by scientists at Bispebjerg University hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bureau Report
The findings were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart rhythm abnormality. It is estimated to affect up to 2 per cent of all people, and up to 14 per cent of the elderly.
Symptoms include palpitations, breathlessness and tiredness; the major hazard is an increased risk of stroke. It is about three times more common among men than women.
Nearly 5.7 million Europeans are estimated to have atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the two small upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating properly. In the United States, about 2 million people have it.
"This (study) raises awareness of the impact of cardiovascular disease among women," said Dr Sidney Smith, a professor of cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"It's one more example that women are not protected from cardiovascular disease. We should do everything we can to dispel that myth that if you're a woman you don't need to worry."
The latest study was conducted by scientists at Bispebjerg University hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bureau Report