Women and Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women globally, yet many women are unaware of their risk and tend to delay seeking medical attention for symptoms. This is partly due to the misconception that heart disease is a "man's disease." As a result, women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. Despite the decrease in cardiovascular mortality among men, the rate has not slowed among women, and in younger women, the mortality rate is actually increasing. To address this issue, there is now a greater focus on understanding the factors that contribute to the differences in outcomes between genders.

One major factor is that our understanding of heart disease in women has been primarily based on research conducted on men, which does not account for the differences in risk factors and symptoms between the sexes. Women's hearts are different from men's, and they can experience different types of heart attacks and require different treatments.

The traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and being overweight, are also present in women, but smoking and diabetes carry a higher risk of heart disease in women than in men. Additionally, there are non-modifiable "female-specific" risk factors, such as hormonal factors, pregnancy complications, and inflammatory conditions, that can increase a woman's risk of heart disease and are not considered in traditional cardiovascular risk calculators.

Furthermore, women often present with different symptoms than men. They are more likely to experience general symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, sweating, nausea, and dizziness, rather than the classic chest pain that men typically experience. It's important that women discuss their medical history and risk factors with their GP and pay attention to any unusual symptoms.

In conclusion, heart disease is a significant concern for women, and there is a need for better understanding of the unique risk factors and symptoms specific to women. With more awareness and attention to this issue, we can help reduce the mortality rate among women.