Heart disease treatment in women

In general, heart disease treatment in women and in men is similar. It can include medicines, angioplasty and stenting, or coronary artery bypass surgery.

Some differences in heart disease treatment among men and women are:

• Women are less likely to be treated with aspirin and statins to prevent future heart attacks than are men. However, studies show the benefits are similar in both groups.
• Women are less likely than men to have coronary artery bypass surgery. This may be because women have less obstructive disease or smaller arteries with more small vessel disease.
• Cardiac rehabilitation can improve health and aid recovery from heart disease. However, women are less likely to be sent to cardiac rehabilitation than men are.