Knowing the symptoms and risks unique to women, along with eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising, can help protect you.
Some may consider heart disease to be a bigger problem for men. However, it is the most common cause of death for both women and men in the United States. Because some symptoms of heart disease in women may differ from those in men, women may not know what to look for.
Heart attack symptoms for women
The most common heart attack symptoms in women are the same as in men: some type of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that comes and goes.
But chest pain is not always the most serious or even the most noticeable symptom, especially in women. Women often describe the pain of a heart attack as pressure or tightness. And it is possible to have a heart attack without chest pain.
Heart attack symptoms in women are not associated with chest pain compared to men, such as:
- 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)
These symptoms may be vague and not as noticeable as the chest pain associated with a heart attack. This may be because women have blockages not only in their main arteries but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart, a condition called small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.
Compared to men, women often experience symptoms while resting or sleeping; Stress may play a role in triggering heart attack symptoms in women.
Because heart attack symptoms in women may be different than those in men, women may be diagnosed with heart disease less often than men. Women are more likely than men to have a heart attack without a serious blockage in an artery (non-obstructive coronary artery disease).
When to see a doctor
If you have symptoms of a heart attack or think you are having one, seek emergency medical help right away. Do not drive to the emergency room if you have no other option.
Heart disease risk factors for women
Several traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity) affect both women and men. However other factors can play a role in the development of heart disease in women.
Heart disease risk factors for women include:
- Diabetes. Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than men with diabetes. Additionally, because diabetes can change the way women feel pain, there is a risk of having a silent heart attack, without symptoms.
- Stress and depression. Stress and depression affect the heart of women more than men. Depression can make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow recommended treatments for other health conditions.
- Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
- Inactivity Lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Menopause. Low estrogen levels after menopause increase the risk of small blood vessel disease.
- 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 increase women's chances of developing heart disease.
- Family history of primary heart disease. It appears to be a greater risk factor in women than in men.
- Inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory conditions can increase the risk of heart disease in both men and women.
Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously. Women under 65, especially those with a family history of heart disease, should also pay close attention to their heart risk factors.
Lifestyle and home remedies
A healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Try these heart-healthy tricks:
- Give up smoking. If you don't smoke, don't start. Try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, which can damage blood vessels.
- Eat healthy food. Choose whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and lean meats. Avoid saturated or trans fats, added sugars, and high amounts of salt.
- Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing even a few pounds can reduce your risk of heart disease. Ask your healthcare provider what weight is best for you.
- Deal with stress. Stress can cause hardening of the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease, especially coronary microvascular disease. Exercising more, practicing mindfulness, and connecting with others in support groups are some ways to manage stress.
- Avoid or limit alcohol. If you want to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, this means one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
- Follow your treatment plan. Take prescribed medications, such as blood pressure medications, blood thinners, and aspirin.
- Manage other health conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes increase the risk of heart disease.
Exercise and heart health
Regular activity helps keep your heart healthy. In general, try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, most days of the week. If it's more than you can handle, start slowly and work your way up. Even five minutes of exercise a day has health benefits.
To improve your health, aim for about 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day, five days a week. Also, do strength training exercises two or more days a week.
It's okay to break up your workouts into a few 10-minute sessions a day. You will still receive the same heart health benefits.
Interval training, which alternates short bursts of intense activity with intervals of light activity, is another way to maintain a healthy weight, improve blood pressure, and keep your heart healthy. For example, incorporate short jogs or brisk walks into your regular walks.
You can add exercise to your daily activities with these tips:
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walk or ride a bike to or from work.
- March in place while watching television.
Heart disease treatment in women
In general, the treatment of heart disease is similar in women and men. This may include medication, angioplasty, stent placement, or coronary bypass surgery.
Some notable differences in the treatment of heart disease between men and women are:
- Women are less likely than men to be treated with aspirin and statins to prevent future heart attacks. However, studies show that the benefits are similar in both groups.
- Women are less likely to have coronary bypass surgery than men because they have less obstructive disease or more small vessel disease in small arteries.
- Cardiac rehabilitation can improve health and help recover from heart disease. However, women are referred less frequently than men for cardiac rehabilitation.
