How do women fare in terms of recovery of physical functioning?
Women heart patients are often less fit and in poorer overall health than male heart patients because they are usually older and more likely to have other conditions (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) when they develop heart disease.21 This may be why women have lower levels of physical activity and more disruption in physical function after heart attacks and heart procedures.22, 23 Nonetheless, female heart patients usually resume household activities more quickly than men, likely due to their traditional role as homemakers.24, 25 Most studies find that women and men experience similar improvements in physical functioning after these events. 22, 23, 26
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