Women And Heart Disease

In honor of Women’s History month, we at NWCD wanted to acknowledge the needs of women in health care today. The gender health gap is not new, in 2016 the World Health Organization found that although women in the European Union live longer that men, they spend more of their lives in poor health. Despite the advances in healthcare, we still face gaps in research and treatment ability for areas that are unique to women, typically in maternal and menstrual health but also conditions that present differently for women than men. These gaps can result in major health issues and disparities in treatment that are largely preventable. Awareness and recognition are the most important first steps in
addressing women’s health today.

Heart disease has been long considered by some to be more of a problem for men however it is the most common cause of death for both men AND women in the United States. In a recent study researchers found that heart attack rates have risen amongst those aged 35-54 – especially in women. The most common heart attack symptoms are the same in women as they are in men however as many other symptoms of heart disease do differ, many women may not know what to look for.

When you think of having a heart attack, the first symptom you think of is severe chest pain however in women this symptom may not even be noticeable. Women tend to describe pressure or tightness in the chest although it is possible to have a heart attack without any chest pain at all.

Women are often unaware of the diversity of symptoms they can suffer when experiencing heart disease. Not only is the patient herself less likely to be aware, but once in care she has a 50% greater risk of receiving a wrong diagnosis following a heart attack than a man does (Wu, Jianhua, et al., 2018).

Often women will think they have the flu, are slowing down due to aging, or even have acid reflux. They should be aware of all the possible symptoms of a heart attack, as it is appropriate to seek medical attention immediately if experiencing any of the following:

• Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly (abdomen) discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in one or both arms
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Unusual fatigue
• Heartburn (indigestion)

Women tend to experience these symptoms more often than men when resting or even when asleep. Emotional stress can trigger these symptoms in women but it is also important to note there are many contributing factors that create a high risk for heart disease.

As per the Mayo Clinic (2022) Heart disease risk factors for women include:

• Diabetes. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than are men with diabetes. Also, because diabetes can change the way women feel pain, there’s an increased risk of having a silent heart attack — without symptoms.
• Emotional stress and depression. Stress and depression affect women’s hearts more than men’s. Depression may make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatment for other health conditions.
• Smoking. Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than it is in men.
• Inactivity. A lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease.
• Menopause. Low levels of estrogen after menopause increase the risk of developing disease in smaller blood vessels.
• Pregnancy complications. High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase the mother’s long-term risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. These conditions also make women more likely to get heart disease.
• Family history of early heart disease. This appears to be a greater risk factor in women than in men.
• Inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory conditions may increase the risk of heart disease in both men and women. With all this being said, there are lifestyle changes everyone can make to reduce the risk of heart disease today.
• Quit Smoking
• Eat a balanced diet
  Prioritize whole grains, fruits, veggies, healthy fats and lean protein over trans fat, added sugars and high sodium
• Maintain a healthy weight
  Speak with your doctor to determine a healthy weight for you
• Exercise daily
  Aim for at least 150 minutes a week.
• Reduce alcohol intake
  *It is recommended for women to have no more than one drink a day
• Add movement throughout your day
  Sitting in the new smoking – it is important to move your body throughout the entire day and avoid long periods of inactivity
• Manage stress
• Don’t skip your annual exam

It is our hope that as women become more familiar with their symptoms, that are similar and unique from men, their cardiovascular health will become more easily diagnosable and treatable.