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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. In fact, more heart disease kills each year than all forms of cancer combined. But what you might not realize is that there are big differences in the way men and women experience heart disease. And doctors say knowing and understanding these differences could save your life.
Here are three key differences you should be aware of.
# 1 Risk factors
Whether you are male or female, there are several risk factors for heart disease that affect both sexes equally. These include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and lack of physical activity. But for women, doctors say there are additional risk factors and warning signs to watch out for.
Dr Sheila Sahni, interventional cardiologist and director of the women’s cardiac program at the Sahni Heart Center in Clark, New Jersey, told Yahoo Life: “Factors unique to women include autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and arthritis. rheumatoid, a history of cancer and having received chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the chest, as well as psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness.
Sahni also says pregnancy can serve as a woman’s first cardiac stress test. “Conditions like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia – if you’ve had them during your pregnancy, they can actually affect your chances of developing heart disease long after your pregnancy is over.”
# 2 Signs and symptoms
Because women were excluded from early studies of heart disease, many of our ideas about what a heart attack victim looks like come from a men’s perspective. “When men have heart attacks, they tend to present themselves the same way we’ve seen it in Hollywood – overwhelming chest pain in the center of the chest or tight jaw,” says Sahni. “But when it comes to a woman, the signs and symptoms can be much more subtle.”
Women who have a heart attack may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, or even heartburn. These less dramatic symptoms force women to wait more than 30% longer than men before going to the hospital. And once there, women are less likely to be correctly diagnosed. “Women come in with symptoms, and then we do a test, like an angiogram,” says Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic and founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic. “But if the angiogram says, ‘Oh, there are no blockages,’ we invalidate it. We say, ‘Well, it’s nothing. You are not in good shape, you are getting old, you are in menopause.
There is also a difference between men and women and the events leading up to a heart attack. Sahni explains, “We have found that more men report new physical activity or physical exertion, such as running or shoveling snow” before having a heart attack. “Whereas for women there is often an emotional stressor leading up to their heart attack, such as very devastating news, the death of a family member or even a divorce,” she says.
Sahni advises women that “any new symptoms between the navel and the nose that appear with exertion, whether physical or emotional, and disappear with rest, should be immediately examined by a doctor.”
# 3 Causes and effects
The reason that heart attacks in men tend to be more dramatic can be attributed to what is going on inside the body. Sahni says that men who have a heart attack usually suffer from a complete blockage of the heart’s blood vessels, abruptly stopping blood flow to the heart. In contrast, when a woman has a heart attack, it often results from a slow deterioration of the arteries. “So if you imagine a pipe scenario, if a pipe is completely clogged, it creates a dramatic backup,” says Sahni. “But if a pipe erodes slowly over time, the presentation can be more subtle.”
Another type of heart attack more common in women is spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD. This condition causes a tear in the wall of the coronary artery which can trap blood and block arteries. Hayes says SCAD is the number one cause of heart attacks in women under 40, but the research is so new that some women are still falling through the cracks. “So when this healthy looking 40 year old woman with SCAD literally says, ‘I feel like there’s an elephant on my chest. My arm hurts. I’m out of breath and I’m sweating, ”they are told it’s a panic attack.
Until studies and clinical trials catch up, Hayes advises women to trust their instincts. “They might need to push a little harder or assert themselves a little more and tell themselves that they know their body best. They are often not only their best lawyer, but their only lawyer.
But regardless of your gender, Sahni says knowing your risk factors, signs, and symptoms is key to staying healthy. “Knowledge is power,” Sahni says. “Educate yourself so you can be your own heart hero and prevent heart disease in your own life. “
Video produced by Jacquie Cosgrove
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