An author wrote that; In 1980, he first encountered the phrase "widow-maker." It referred to a blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery—one of the most dangerous types of heart attacks due to the large area of the heart it supplies. At the time, he thought the term was clever. It captured the severity of the condition in a memorable way, impressing upon students and doctors alike the urgency of recognizing and treating such a blockage.
The term assumed that the typical victim was male, leaving behind a widow. It perpetuated the notion—consciously or not—that heart disease is a man's problem. In truth, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
The author of this article thought that It's time we retire the term "widow-maker." It's not only outdated; it's misleading he stated.
Image by Ryan J. Hendrix: The Critical Connection Between Diet and Heart Disease
As we reflect on how language can misinform a reader, it's also worth reviewing some of the basic science behind coronary artery disease. Estrogen, for instance, tends to promote a favorable lipid profile: high HDL (the "good" cholesterol) and low LDL (the "bad"). In contrast, hormones like progesterone and testosterone are associated with higher LDL and lower HDL. That means your biological sex, hormone therapy, birth control choices (such as Depo-Provera), or anabolic steroid use (common in bodybuilding) can all influence your cardiovascular risk.
Diet plays a critical role as well. Frequent consumption of "scavenger" meats like pork, lobster, shrimp, and crab, or a diet heavy in saturated and trans fats, can increase small, dense LDL particles—the ones most likely to cause inflammation and contribute to arterial plaque. Even cooking methods matter: frying your food rather than baking or broiling it changes your lipid intake profile. And don't forget about genetic lipid disorders, such as Type IV hyperlipidemia, which can silently accelerate coronary artery disease despite outwardly healthy habits.
Heart disease doesn't wear a single face. It doesn't belong to one gender, one body type, or one lifestyle. Our language—and our care—should reflect that truth.