The Rising Heart and Breast Health Risks Facing Younger Women—and Steps to Take Today

Recent statistics paint a concerning picture about the rise in the number of younger women who are being diagnosed with two serious conditions—heart disease and breast cancer. While both these diseases remain more common in women who are 50 or older, there has been a slow, steady increase in the number of women under 45 being diagnosed with both conditions.

Over the past decade, the number of women under 45 who were diagnosed with breast cancer rose 1.1% per year, affecting women of all ethnic backgrounds, a rate faster than that of women over 50. Although the overall breast cancer incidence in younger women is still low—about 49 cases per 100,000 women, the trend is worrying. A National Institutes of Health data analysis discovered that female breast cancer was one of 14 types of cancer with an increased incidence in people under 50 and it was the cancer with the largest increase in estimated additional cases compared to expected cases.

Another study found that younger women diagnosed with breast cancer often had more aggressive disease, larger tumor size, advanced tumor stage, negative hormone receptors status, and overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor HER2. All these factors can contribute to poorer prognosis.

The number of younger women being diagnosed with heart disease is also on the rise. Data published in Circulation projects that by 2050, nearly a third of all American women between the ages of 20 and 44 will have some type of cardiovascular disease, compared to fewer than one in four women currently. Other data fleshes out the picture:

• A 2025 National Center for Health Statistics report found that 25.8% of U.S. women had two or more cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, high blood lipids, high blood glucose, or high BMI.
• One in five women who are of reproductive age have high blood pressure, which, if not adequately managed, increases the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, including stroke, heart attack, and early death.
• Among American women 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease and less than 50% of women who become pregnant, a condition that itself can cause heart issues, have good heart health.

What’s driving the increase in breast cancer and heart disease in younger women and how is it related?

There are several shared factors that can increase risk of both breast cancer and heart disease. These include:

• Obesity: Being overweight or obese is associated with an increase in systemic inflammation throughout the body, which in turn can effect the levels or hormones such as estrogen and insulin. Higher estrogen levels are associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer, while high insulin levels contribute to the development of diabetes, which can cause artery damage and increase the risk of heart disease. Obesity also increases the heart’s workload, raising blood pressure and can increase cholesterol levels, raising the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries that can contribute to heart attack and stroke.
• Being inactive: Inactivity contributes to the risk of being overweight or obese and having a higher percentage of body fat. That increases systemic inflammation and the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and a number of other cancers.
• Lifestyle choices: Like inactivity, eating a diet high in processed foods, saturated fats, and sugar raises the risk of weight gain and inflammation. Smoking is linked to higher rates of heart disease because the chemicals in smoke damage the lining of arteries and increase the risk of plaque buildup. The carbon monoxide in cigarette and cigar smoke replaces oxygen in the blood, making the heart pump harder and increasing blood pressure, while nicotine increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The carcinogens in smoke are also associated with an increased risk of breast and other cancers.
• Getting older and menopause: Getting older is a non-modifiable risk factor for heart disease and breast cancer. Menopause also increases the risk of developing both conditions. As estrogen levels decrease, blood vessels can stiffen, LDL cholesterol can rise, and blood pressure can increase. In terms of breast cancer risk, early menstruation and later menopause can increase risk because the body is exposed to estrogen longer.
• Family medical history and genetics: Having a family member with either breast cancer and/or heart disease, especially if the conditions were diagnosed at a younger age, can increase the risk of these conditions. For breast cancer (as well as ovarian cancer), genetic mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, PTEN, STK11, PALB2, and CDH1 genes, are associated with an increased risk.

Treatment for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation, especially to the left side of the chest, can increase the risk of heart disease. Working with a cardio-oncologist before, during, and after treatment can help you manage and mitigate the effects of breast cancer treatment on your heart health.Bu

Proactive steps to lower your risk of heart disease and breast cancer

Being aware that heart disease and breast cancer can affect younger women is the first step to building a proactive strategy that can help reduce your risk of both diseases. Your health advisor can connect you with specialists and help you build a risk reduction plan tailored to your personal and family health history.

These steps are a good place to start:

• Know your family medical history: Having close family members who were diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age or had cancer in both breasts, male breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, or pancreatic cancer is associated with an increased risk of early onset breast cancer (under the age of 50). It’s also important to know if anyone has a gene mutation associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. In addition, dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect lumps manually or through mammography alone. Women with dense breasts should request mammography and ultrasound or MRI screening. If a close family member had a heart attack or was diagnosed with heart disease at a younger age, you may also have a higher risk of young onset heart disease.
• Get recommended screenings: Work with your physician to develop a personalized plan for breast cancer and heart disease screenings based on both your personal and family medical history. If your family or personal history suggests an increased risk of either disease, you may need earlier, more frequent, or additional screening beyond what’s recommended for people at average risk.
• Make healthy lifestyle choices: Choose a diet that is lower in saturated fats, processed foods, and sugar and that includes lean protein, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Alcohol has been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer and contributes to factors that raise heart disease risk, so if you choose to drink, do so moderately. Do not smoke or quit smoking and take part in regular aerobic activity.

Connect with PinnacleCare

For more information about how PinnacleCare’s Health Advisors could assist you with heart health or breast cancer support, connect with us today.

Top 5 FAQs About Breast Cancer and Heart Disease in Younger Women

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