Facts To Know (Not relate to Financial but relate to health)

- Life expentancy for women has increased from 75.1 years in 2000 compared to 76.5 years today. But there are challenges, some of which arise from lifestyle changes.

- New studies have shown that women are equally at risk from heart disease. Heart attacks and strokes are now one of the main causes of death in Malaysian women resulting in about 1 in 4 deaths.

- Women tend to suffer from heart disease in their 50s - about 10 years later than men. They are twice as likely to die of a heart attack and 31% more likely than men to die within a year of a heart attack.

- Following a stroke, women are twice as likely to die than men (16% vs 8%). As strokes are the second most important cause of death in women and the most important cause of disability, early detection and good medical care are essential.

- Cancer rates among women are rising too.A study between 1993 to 2003 showed that cancer rates are increasing five-fold. New studies show the rate continues to rise. Today cancer causes 1 in 8 deaths among Malaysian women.

- Breast cancer is responsible for abput 33% of all cancers. According to statistics, about 1 in 20 women will get breast cancer. At age 25 the risk is 1 in 19,608. At age 50 the risk is 1 in 50.