Cardiovascular concerns are not something most people think are a primary health concern for women. However, heart disease is the #1 health risk for women, yet only 56% of women know that heart disease is the top health risk they face. Heart disease kills more women than all kinds of cancer combined.
Early research on heart disease excluded women from the studies, resulting in findings that were male-specific, particularly the signs of heart disease, which we now know present quite differently in men versus women. While both men and women can experience chest pain as a sign of heart disease, women can also experience much more subtle symptoms as signs of the disease. Unlike men, heart disease in women may present as fatigue, nausea, back pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath and/or dizziness rather than just intense chest pain. These subtle symptoms have led doctors to dismiss them in women for another cause, such as stress or anxiety.
Another important difference is that women tend to develop blockages in smaller vessels in the heart, versus the large arteries where men develop blockages, making heart disease in women more difficult to detect. Men also typically experience heart disease at an earlier age than women as it’s believed that pre-menopausal women receive some protection from estrogen and progesterone. After menopause, a woman’s risk for heart disease increases significantly.
Women are twice as likely to die from heart disease than men!
Man or woman, if you think you are too young to worry about heart disease, think again. For some, heart disease risks can begin as early as their 20s. Women even bear some unique risks for heart disease as compared to their male counterparts:
♥ Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
♥ Hormonal factors such as early menopause (before age 40 or 45), early menstruation (before age 10), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
♥ Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory conditions which are more common in women and damage blood vessels
♥ Mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, and depression which are more prevalent in women and strongly linked to heart issues
♥ Small Vessel Disease which affects women through coronary microvascular disease, which affects smaller arteries, rather than just large artery blockages
Common gender-neutral risk factors include:
♥ Diabetes
♥ Smoking
♥ High blood pressure and cholesterol
♥ Obesity/inactive lifestyle
Hello Heart is a EWTF partner provider that can help all of our participants—men and women—take control of their heart health. visit https://preferences.helloheart.com/EWTF