Heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women, but for women, not recognizing symptoms continues to be a concern. Because of biological differences in men and women, heart disease often presents differently, with subtle and sometimes difficult to identify symptoms. It is important, therefore, that women be both aware of their heart health and to react quickly when something seems to be “off.”
Why is heart disease different in women?
Heart disease — heart attack, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure — impacts the structure and functioning of the heart. Abnormal heart rhythms, narrowing of the arteries, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke are among major concerns for those at risk for developing heart disease, but symptoms and risk factors are different for women.
- The heart and blood vessels in women tend to be smaller than in men and cholesterol build up frequently occurs differently. While men typically develop plaque buildup in large arteries that supply blood to the heart, women more often have buildup in these smaller blood vessels.
- In both men and women, a key heart attack symptom will be chest pain, but often in women this pain will feel more like pressure, and there may be no pain at all.
- Key risk factors for men and women are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, but women also experience significant risk due to menopause and emotional stress as well as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy.
What women need to know about heart disease
The idea that heart disease is a silent killer may be more true for women than men. Blockages in a woman’s small blood vessels can be hard to detect and even harder to treat. As women age and go through menopause, their risk factors for blockage and high blood pressure increase. Women experiencing issues with diabetes and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, also are at higher risk for complications and misdiagnosis relative to heart disease.
It’s critical for women to work closely with their doctors as they work through menopause and when addressing symptoms and treatment for diabetes, arthritis, and stress. Pregnancy complications and family history of any of these issues should also be discussed.
Heart attack symptoms that are subtle or considered less common are reported more often by women than crushing chest pain, primarily because blockage tends to be in smaller blood vessels that supply the heart. Women also are more likely to experience these symptoms while at rest and are more likely to ignore their symptoms. You should seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Breathlessness and nausea/vomiting
- Sweating, fainting or lightheaded feeling
- Persistent heartburn
- Pain in the jaw, neck, and one or both arms
- Upper back or abdominal pain
- Extreme fatigue, especially with minor exertion
For both men and women, a healthy lifestyle of exercise, a healthy diet and weight, no smoking, and limited alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Contact the doctors at Stark Women’s Center today for answers to your questions about heart disease and your risk factors. Call to make an appointment.