Heart disease can be serious, even deadly, for anyone. But it poses unique risks for women, mostly because of the differences in the female body and hormones. Most of what is commonly known about heart disease & symptoms has been oriented towards men. Women may have different symptoms. That is why it is very important you learn to recognize the symptoms of heart disease in women, understand your risks and take action to reduce them.
As a woman you are more likely to miss your symptoms, and are more likely to be misdiagnosed by a medical professional.
Heart disease looks different for women.
Women exhibit different symptoms of heart disease than men. Women are more likely to have atypical or vague symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, indigestion and fatigue. These symptoms are often ignored, or misdiagnosed as anxiety or indigestion! Women are less likely to receive timely intervention or advice on managing their risk factors.
Heart disease symptoms in women.
Women are more likely than men to have “silent” heart disease, meaning that they don’t have obvious symptoms, like ‘chest pains’ in men. Heart disease symptoms for women often are:
Pain or discomfort in the chest that may be dull and heavy or sharp
Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly, or back
Nausea, vomitting or indigestion
Unusual fatigue, lightheadedness or dizziness
Unusual sweating
Shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air) during physical activity
Also, women are more likely than men to have symptoms while resting and even while asleep. The chances of having a heart attack with no severe blockage in an artery are also more for women as compared to men.
Does menopause increase your risk of heart disease?
Women can develop heart disease at any age, but your risk increases after menopause. Before menopause, the estrogen in your body has a protective effect against heart disease. As the estrogen levels drop in menopause, the risk of heart diseases increases significantly. That’s why women generally develop coronary artery disease 10 years later than men. Your risk of getting heart disease also increases if you have one or more risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, stress or depression, lifestyle habits such as smoking, lack of exercise and a family history of heart disease.
How we can help.
As women’s health specialists, we are best at providing you with the preventive care you need based on a thorough risk assessment for your heart health.
