What Women Need to Know about the Signs of Heart Disease
In 2020, over 690,000 Americans died of heart disease (cardiovascular disease), making it the leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, many women do not realize that heart disease is deadlier than cancer, despite being preventable. Nor do many people realize that signs of heart disease in women differ from those in men, making them easily overlooked.
Since chest pain is not the only sign of heart disease, it is critical that women know what signs to look for, the risk factors, and lifestyle changes that can help prevent it.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, refers to different conditions that can affect the heart, including:
- Disease of the blood vessels, i.e. coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque collects in the walls of the arteries, interfering with blood flow throughout the body
- Congenital heart defects, present from birth, in which there is an abnormal heart structure
- Heart failure, in which the heart’s pumping action fails to meet the body’s demands
- Heart attack, in which blood supply is blocked to part of your heart muscle
- Arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats
- Heart valve disease, in which blood flow is blocked or has a leak
- Disease of the heart muscle, or cardiomyopathy, which weakens the muscle’s function
Signs of heart disease
Symptoms of heart disease can vary—especially for women. Women who have heart attacks are less likely than men to have any chest pain, which is the most well-known sign. The symptoms women tend to have may be mistaken by their physician for panic disorder, stress, or even hypochondria. Awareness of the symptoms is important because, without it, women may be less likely to seek care during a heart attack.
According to Harvard, women need to be aware of these top heart attack symptoms that may occur in the month leading up to a heart attack and/or at the time of a heart attack:
Fatigue
Unusual or unexplained fatigue (not chest pain) during a heart attack or in the month leading up to it is the most common symptom of heart disease for women.
Chest discomfort—pain, pressure, burning, numbness, or squeezing
Chest pain can occur anywhere throughout the chest, may feel like tightness or squeezing, and can last for any duration of time. It can also spread to the shoulders and arms, the neck and jaw, and the back. However, not all heart disease leads to chest pain—only 1 in 8 women will experience this symptom.
Shortness of breath
Feeling out of breath despite doing minimal activity, or simply resting, can be a sign of heart disease. It may occur suddenly, without warning.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
Pay attention to your body if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and especially if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms of heart disease.
Unusual or unexplained fatigue (not chest pain) during a heart attack or in the month leading up to it is the most common symptom of heart disease for women.
Indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
Indigestion is a common sign of heart disease, so watch out for this or other gastrointestinal symptoms that occur without another explanation. While indigestion may occur before a heart attack, nausea is common during a heart attack.
Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, or back
Pain felt in areas of the body other than the chest can be a sign of heart disease; pay attention to unexplained discomfort experienced in the jaw and teeth, neck, shoulders, arms, back, or even abdomen.
Weak or heavy arms
General weakness, as well as weak or heavy arms, are commonly reported during a heart attack, but also may appear in the month before a heart attack.
Cold sweat
A cold sweat is one of the most common symptoms women experience during a heart attack.
Sleep disturbance
Difficulty sleeping may affect as many of 48% of women in the month leading up to a heart attack.
Reducing your risk of heart disease
Consider your personal risk factors listed below, and implement healthy lifestyle habits to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Risk factors for heart disease
- Smoking
- Stress
- Depression
- Inactivity
- Menopause
- Pregnancy complications
- High LDL cholesterol levels
- Unmanaged diabetes
- Untreated hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of heart problems
Schedule regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor for these risk factors; early detection and treatment of related conditions like depression may help to prevent heart disease down the road.
What lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of heart disease in women?
Heart disease is preventable, and lifestyle changes are particularly important if you are at risk. Here are a number of research-backed techniques to help lower your chances of developing heart disease:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, healthy fats (poly- and monounsaturated), and fish.
- Limit intake of saturated and trans fats, sugar, and salt (excess salt may lead to hypertension, or high blood pressure).
- Live an active lifestyle, and aim for moderate exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Incorporate changes like taking the stairs or parking farther away from work to raise your step count.
- Manage your stress.
- Seek out treatment for depression with a licensed therapist and/or psychiatrist.
- Quit smoking (and avoid secondhand smoke).
- Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels with regular primary care doctor visits.
In addition, patients who are at risk may want to talk to their doctor about medications to reduce the risk of heart disease developing or advancing.
Are there any tests for heart disease?
Yes, there are several tests that detect heart disease by monitoring blood flow, measuring electrical activity in the heart, gathering images of the heart, and testing blood. These include electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, exercise/stress testing, cholesterol tests, and chest X-rays.
Treating heart disease for women
Heart disease treatments include medications, angioplasty, stenting, cardiac rehabilitation, and coronary bypass surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, women are less likely than men to require coronary bypass surgery.
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