43 million women have heart disease - more than HALF do not do exercise to ...

More than half of all women with cardiovascular disease do not perform exercise and the number is growing, a new study says.

Researchers found 61 percent of the 43 million women with heart disease weren't meeting the physical activity guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Additionally, healthcare costs were about $4,000 more for women who weren't exercising compared to those who were.  

Around one-third of the US female population has heart disease, and doctors say exercising could help strengthen the heart muscle and manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The team, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, says that physicians need to closely monitor their female patients with cardiovascular disease for signs of inactivity and encourage them to exercise.  

A new study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found healthcare costs were about $4,000 more for women with heart disease who don't exercise than women with heart disease who do exercise (file image)

A new study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found healthcare costs were about $4,000 more for women with heart disease who don't exercise than women with heart disease who do exercise (file image)

Heart disease is the number one killer in every country including the US, and the leading cause of death for women aged 65 and older. 

The AHA says exercising could help women reduce their chances of developing the disease, or manage symptoms if they already have it.   

About 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity is suggested. That means women could do 30 minutes of brisk walking per day for five days a week and meet the guidelines.

For the study, published in JAMA Network Open, the team looked at data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey between 2006 and

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