Men develop cardiovascular disease 7 years before women, study suggests. But why?

Photo of a man and woman outdoors, each standing with their hands on their knees as they recover from a workout. .

Men tend to develop cardiovascular disease about seven years earlier than women do, according to a new study.

The difference is driven largely by coronary heart disease, which is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries within the heart. It appears roughly a decade sooner in men than in women.