The death of showbiz icon Jaclyn Jose due to a myocardial infarction has sent shockwaves through the industry.

Jose, real name Mary Jane Guck, was found lifeless in her home in Quezon City after failing to respond to messages and calls from her relatives.

Actress Jaclyn Jose has passed away

Jaclyn Jose died due to heart attack, Andi Eigenmann says

According to Dr. Aileen Cynthia de Lara, former chairperson of the Philippine Heart Association Council on Women's Cardiovascular Health, women who have gone through menopause could be at risk of myocardial infarction or heart attack.

"Ang heart attack lalo na sa babae, nangyayari 'yan usually kapag menopausal. Other than 'yung edad between 48, from the time nagsimula silang mag-menopause, that already poses a risk sa mga kababaihan para mag-develop 'yung tinatawag na myocardial infarction  or heart attack na sinasabi," she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. 

Age, however, is not the only factor that can raise the risk of heart attack for women. Other risk factors include vices such as smoking and drinking, wrong diet, excess weight, diabetes and even stress.

De Lara said younger women are less prone to heart attack due to higher level of estrogen, which regulates a woman's cholesterol levels. 

"Mas maagang nagkakaroon ng heart problem ang mga lalaki compared sa mga babae dahil nga sa estrogen that protects women..Usually, ang babae protected by estrogen. Ito 'yung nagpo-protect sa mga babae against this condition or cardiovascular condition, hormonal effect, cholesterol. Also pag babaeng hindi pa menopause, kadalasan maganda pa ang cholesterol," she said.

"But once you have withdrawal of estrogen, d'yan na nagsisimula ang lahat. Tataas ang cholesterol and that poses a risk for a heart attack to happen."

Symptoms of a heart attack also differ for men and women.

For men, chest pain is usually one symptom for possible myocardial infarction.  

"Sa babae hindi ganun. Minsan madaling mapagod lang, sumakit ang likod, sumakit ang t'yan, nanghihina. These are subtle signs na akala mo hindi sakit sa puso," she said.

For de Lara, what is important is cardiovascular disease is preventable for both men and women. 

"Talagang maiiwasan siya through pagpapa-check-up. When we reach a certain age, dapat may routine check-up na," she said.