Heart disease is more than a serious health issue, it is the No. 1 cause of death in both women and men: Roughly 600,000 people die of heart disease in the US every year. But because women have longer life expectancy than men, they constitute a larger proportion of the elderly population in which the likelihood of cardiovascular disease is greatest. For the past 3 decades, there have been significant declines in heart disease mortality for both men and women, especially in the older population. However, recent data suggests a lack of improvement in heart disease rates in women age 55 and younger. Read on to find out more about heart disease and heart attacks in women and to build your awareness of gender differences in diagnosis treatment.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attacks, is the most common type of heart disease. A heart attack occurs when the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle is partially or completely compromised, usually due to cholesterol plaque buildup in the blood vessels. In women, heart attacks cause one in three deaths each year; approximately one woman dies from a heart attack every minute.
Although both men and women get heart attacks that are caused by obstruction of the heart arteries by plaque and clots, the way these clots develop differs. Women tend to have plaque erosion, which means small pieces of plaque break off and become exposed. This causes the formation of smaller clots, which may not cause complete blockage (or "occlusion") at once. (This explains the more subtle symptoms than for men.) In addition, women tend to experience heart attacks approximately 10 years later than men, when they are more fragile and likely to have other health issues.
One of the reasons women typically have heart attacks later than men is because of the decrease in estrogen that accompanies menopause. The cause of heart attacks and the warning symptoms that lead patients to seek immediate medical attention are different in women and men, too. Women who do not recognize these differences may experience delayed and inappropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of heart attack in women
Women having heart attacks tend to report symptoms such as chest pressure, heaviness, or fullness and sweating. Women often attribute these symptoms to other less life-threatening conditions, including indigestion, muscle pain, and normal aging. Women are more likely to describe symptoms such as shortness of breath; arm, back, or jaw pain; nausea; a pounding heart; lightheadedness; or loss of appetite. This presentation in women has been linked to the delay in both diagnosis and the delivery of lifesaving treatments.
Women having heart attacks tend to report symptoms such as chest pressure, heaviness, or fullness and sweating. Women often attribute these symptoms to other less life-threatening conditions, including indigestion, muscle pain, and normal aging. Women are more likely to describe symptoms such as shortness of breath; arm, back, or jaw pain; nausea; a pounding heart; lightheadedness; or loss of appetite. This presentation in women has been linked to the delay in both diagnosis and the delivery of lifesaving treatments.
Risk factors for heart disease: the difference between women and men
Traditional risk factors for developing cardiac disease affect women and men in different ways.
Traditional risk factors for developing cardiac disease affect women and men in different ways.
Estrogen
Estrogen helps maintain normal blood pressure in women before menopause. But after menopause, women develop high blood pressure more often than men do: Only 44% achieve control of their blood pressure, compared with 51% of men.
Estrogen helps maintain normal blood pressure in women before menopause. But after menopause, women develop high blood pressure more often than men do: Only 44% achieve control of their blood pressure, compared with 51% of men.
Cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol levels have similar harmful effects for cardiovascular health in both men and women. Medications commonly used to control cholesterol have similar effectiveness for both men and women. However, among the elderly, women are less likely to take cholesterol-lowering medication than men, for a variety of reasons.
Elevated cholesterol levels have similar harmful effects for cardiovascular health in both men and women. Medications commonly used to control cholesterol have similar effectiveness for both men and women. However, among the elderly, women are less likely to take cholesterol-lowering medication than men, for a variety of reasons.
Smoking
Women who smoke are 25% more likely to experience heart events than men who smoke. Additionally, the combination of smoking and oral contraceptive use increases heart disease risk.
Women who smoke are 25% more likely to experience heart events than men who smoke. Additionally, the combination of smoking and oral contraceptive use increases heart disease risk.
Blood sugar
Elevated blood sugar (known as diabetes mellitus) has a greater impact in women than in men. In fact, for a young woman with diabetes, the risk of heart disease is four to five times higher than it would be for a man of the same age. Prediabetic women have earlier vascular and metabolic damage than prediabetic men, as well.
Elevated blood sugar (known as diabetes mellitus) has a greater impact in women than in men. In fact, for a young woman with diabetes, the risk of heart disease is four to five times higher than it would be for a man of the same age. Prediabetic women have earlier vascular and metabolic damage than prediabetic men, as well.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It can decrease oxygen supply to all the organs, but the heart is particularly susceptible to these drops and the subsequent damage. Common symptoms are daytime sleepiness or fatigue, restlessness during sleep, and snoring. Women with OSA have been shown to have higher inflammatory markers, more depression, and greater difficulty controlling blood pressure than men with the same condition.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It can decrease oxygen supply to all the organs, but the heart is particularly susceptible to these drops and the subsequent damage. Common symptoms are daytime sleepiness or fatigue, restlessness during sleep, and snoring. Women with OSA have been shown to have higher inflammatory markers, more depression, and greater difficulty controlling blood pressure than men with the same condition.
Obesity
When it comes to heart health, obesity has a more significant impact on women than on men. Obesity increases the relative risk of heart disease by 64% in women, as opposed to 46% for men.
When it comes to heart health, obesity has a more significant impact on women than on men. Obesity increases the relative risk of heart disease by 64% in women, as opposed to 46% for men.
Physical activity
There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and heart disease and longevity. According to data from a 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in adults, more women than men are inactive (33.2% versus 29.9%).
There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and heart disease and longevity. According to data from a 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in adults, more women than men are inactive (33.2% versus 29.9%).
Risk factors for heart disease specific to women
Besides the traditional risk factors mentioned above, there are risk factors exclusive to women, such as pregnancy-related complications and hormonal factors. Other conditions tied to the development of heart disease, including depression, anxiety, autoimmune diseases (lupus and rheumatoid arthritis), and migraines, are significantly more frequent in women.
Besides the traditional risk factors mentioned above, there are risk factors exclusive to women, such as pregnancy-related complications and hormonal factors. Other conditions tied to the development of heart disease, including depression, anxiety, autoimmune diseases (lupus and rheumatoid arthritis), and migraines, are significantly more frequent in women.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a condition in which a woman's hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with menstruation and make it difficult to get pregnant. Women with PCOS have a higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. There is a known relationship between these conditions and heart disease. In addition, women with PCOS have higher levels of calcium in the heart arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks.
PCOS is a condition in which a woman's hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with menstruation and make it difficult to get pregnant. Women with PCOS have a higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. There is a known relationship between these conditions and heart disease. In addition, women with PCOS have higher levels of calcium in the heart arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks.
Pregnancy-related disorders
Pregnancy is considered a stress test. When a woman fails this stress test, complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery (birth before 37 weeks) can develop. These complications are associated with an increased risk of heart disease (a risk that persists later in life, far beyond the affected pregnancy period). For example, preeclampsia triples the risk of heart attack and quadruples the risk of high blood pressure. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing diabetes sevenfold, the risk of stroke twofold, and the risk of a heart attack later in life fourfold. Inflammation, infection, and vascular diseases are thought to be involved in these correlations.
Pregnancy is considered a stress test. When a woman fails this stress test, complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery (birth before 37 weeks) can develop. These complications are associated with an increased risk of heart disease (a risk that persists later in life, far beyond the affected pregnancy period). For example, preeclampsia triples the risk of heart attack and quadruples the risk of high blood pressure. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing diabetes sevenfold, the risk of stroke twofold, and the risk of a heart attack later in life fourfold. Inflammation, infection, and vascular diseases are thought to be involved in these correlations.
Systemic rheumatologic diseases
Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women than in men and are associated with a 50% higher risk of heart disease in affected women. Additionally, the use of corticosteroids as a treatment for these conditions increases the incidence of inflammation in blood vessel walls.
Diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in women than in men and are associated with a 50% higher risk of heart disease in affected women. Additionally, the use of corticosteroids as a treatment for these conditions increases the incidence of inflammation in blood vessel walls.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for breast cancer
There has been tremendous improvement in the survival rates of breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, this improvement in outcomes also increases the prevalence of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-associated heart toxicity. Patients with breast cancer who have undergone certain types of chemotherapy and have had radiation to their chests should be monitored for cardiac conditions over the long term.
There has been tremendous improvement in the survival rates of breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, this improvement in outcomes also increases the prevalence of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-associated heart toxicity. Patients with breast cancer who have undergone certain types of chemotherapy and have had radiation to their chests should be monitored for cardiac conditions over the long term.
Depression and migraine
Both conditions are more common in women than in men and have been associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke. One study showed that moderate to severe depression doubles the risk of heart attack in the next 2 years and increases the risk of death. As such, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that every woman be screened and treated for depression. Migraines, especially with aura (symptoms you notice shortly before the headache begins), have been associated with elevated cholesterol, marked inactivity, depression, sleep disturbances, and heart attacks.
Both conditions are more common in women than in men and have been associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke. One study showed that moderate to severe depression doubles the risk of heart attack in the next 2 years and increases the risk of death. As such, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that every woman be screened and treated for depression. Migraines, especially with aura (symptoms you notice shortly before the headache begins), have been associated with elevated cholesterol, marked inactivity, depression, sleep disturbances, and heart attacks.
How treatment varies between men and women
Despite the beneficial effects of certain medicines and increased accuracy of diagnostic methods for heart disease, both treatment and diagnosis have been found to be delayed in women.
Despite the beneficial effects of certain medicines and increased accuracy of diagnostic methods for heart disease, both treatment and diagnosis have been found to be delayed in women.
- Women are less likely to get stress testing to diagnose heart disease.
- Women have higher rates of readmission to the hospital after a heart attack or episode of heart failure.
- Medications known to improve the outcome after a heart attack (including aspirin, beta-blockers, and statins) are prescribed to women less frequently.
- Fewer women than men perform the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week.
Final thoughts
Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the US, risk factors including obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and elevated cholesterol continue to rise in young women. Being aware of female-specific risks and the symptoms of heart disease can help women prevent and recognize heart attacks. Women need to not only be aware of treatment options after a heart attack, but also become assertive about asking their doctor about those treatments and referrals.
Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the US, risk factors including obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and elevated cholesterol continue to rise in young women. Being aware of female-specific risks and the symptoms of heart disease can help women prevent and recognize heart attacks. Women need to not only be aware of treatment options after a heart attack, but also become assertive about asking their doctor about those treatments and referrals.
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