Compared to women, men experiencing chest pain are more vulnerable to developing heart disease and death from it, a new study finds.

Chest pain, known as angina, is a common warning sign of heart disease caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle.

According to the study published in the British Medical Journal, men are twice more likely to have a heart attack and almost three times more likely to die from it.

Compared to women, men are reported to need angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery more often.

The underlying reasons contributing to the increased risk in men is not yet clear; many, however, believe the fact that men are less likely to seek medical attention until their condition is more advanced and when they are diagnosed they are less likely to follow medical advice are the reasons for the increased risk in this population.

The sex hormone estrogen, on the other, is believed to protect women against the condition.

The study also showed that being male, older and a smoker increases the risk of suffering a heart attack. The same factors, in addition to obesity, are associated with a higher risk of death from heart disease.

Scientists urged individuals suffering from angina to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to minimize the risk of serious heart disease.

PKH/HGH