A Common Misconception

Although heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, many women and their physicians still believe that breast cancer causes the most deaths.

Although about 36 percent of American women will die of heart disease, only 4 percent know it's the leading cause of death for women, according to a recent survey. In contrast, 40 percent of women fear dying of breast cancer, even though only 4 percent actually will die of the disease, according to data from The National Center for Health Statistics.

References:
1. "Women's Health," National Center for Health Statistics, Sept. 26, 2002.
2. "Study of Women's Awareness of and Attitudes Toward Heart Disease and Stroke," American Heart Association, 1997.
3. "Coronary Heart Disease," American Medical Women's Association, 2001.