Why men are more prone to heart disease than women

Men are generally more prone to heart disease than women, a difference driven by biological, hormonal, and lifestyle factors. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) account for nearly 17.9 million deaths annually, and men are more frequently affected at younger ages compared to women.
A combination of hormonal protection, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions explains why men are more prone to heart disease than women, particularly in their earlier years.
Hormonal differences play a significant role in heart disease susceptibility. Estrogen, a hormone predominant in women before menopause, offers protective effects on the heart by improving cholesterol levels and maintaining flexible blood vessels.
Men, on the other hand, lack this advantage and are more likely to develop heart conditions earlier. After menopause, women’s risk increases but generally lags behind men’s by about 10 years.
Lifestyle Factors such as smoking, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behavior also contribute to men’s heightened vulnerability to heart disease.
“Smoking Speeds up the clogging and narrowing of coronary arteries. Plaque build-up inside the coronary arteries leads to reduced blood flow to the heart and increases the risk of heart attack. Men tend to smoke more often than women,” said Dr. D. K Jhamb, Director & Head of Department, Department of Interventional Cardiology, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram.
According to a report by the American Heart Association (AHA), men tend to smoke more frequently and have higher alcohol consumption rates than women, both of which increase heart disease risks.
Besides this, men are more likely to have jobs involving high stress, another risk factor for heart disease.
“Gender bias may lie in how men handle stress. When you undergo chronic stress, you make yourself prone to diseases like hypertension. Elevated blood pressure can restrict the blood flow to your heart,” added Dr Jhamb.
Genetics also play a role. Studies show that men tend to accumulate visceral fat (fat around organs), which is more harmful than subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin).
This visceral fat increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions that lead to heart disease.
A study published in The Lancet showed that men are more likely to suffer heart attacks at younger ages, with approximately 70% of first heart attack cases occurring in men.
Men also tend to have higher levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), which contributes to artery blockages.