Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and women are more likely to die from their first heart attack than men. Women and men develop heart disease differently; women have more subtle symptoms and different risk factors. Heart disease is preventable but it’s essential to understand the warning signs and advocate for yourself to stay ahead of your health. This week on Fox17, Dr. Bitner shares signs to look for and the importance of early detection.
Fact #1
Heart disease develops when the blood vessels supplying the heart are damaged or blocked. Over time, a build-up of cholesterol or plaque can clog the vessel and prevent blood supply from reaching the heart. For women, the vessels slowly increase in stiffness until they cannot open and pass blood through, leading to the vessel seizing up and stopping the delivery of oxygen to the heart muscle.
Fact #2
Symptoms of heart disease are different for men and women. The location of plaque build up within blood vessels affects how heart disease develops, the signs, and how it is detected. In men, plaque builds up inside the blood vessels, often leading to a sudden blockage that causes intense chest pain. The sudden episode can be described as feeling like an elephant is sitting on their chest.
For women, plaque tends to develop within the walls of the blood vessels. The arteries slowly become inflamed and stiffen leading to subtle symptoms, such as increased difficulty exercising, shortness of breath with exertion, and fatigue. The gradual development can look like struggling to walk half a mile without stopping to catch your breath, or difficulty climbing stairs when it used to feel effortless.
Fact #3
Symptoms of heart disease in women:
- Progressive shortness of breath with exercise
- Worsening fatigue
- Excessive sweating with exertion
- Nausea
- Exercise intolerance
- Neck or jaw pain
Fact #4
Preventative screening can save your life. Knowing important health markers can provide insight into your risk and help predict the likelihood of a life-changing cardiac event. For too long, women have been underdiagnosed and undertreated for heart disease—despite the fact that many cases are preventable. But now, we understand how heart disease presents differently in women. Here are numbers to ask your provider and know for yourself to help you make informed decisions on your health:
- Waist circumference (measured below the belly button)
- Blood pressure
- Body fat percentage
- Stage of menopause transition
- Daily step count
- Family history (especially if your mom or dad had a heart attack before 50)
- Lipid profile (cholesterol), including particle sizes-apo(b) and lipoprotein(a)
- Blood sugar (A1C test for diabetes risk)
- Vitamin D levels
- hsCRP inflammation marker
- Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CAC)
Patient story:
Jane, 54, lived an overall active and healthy lifestyle. She had a family history of heart disease but felt she lived a better lifestyle than her relatives, so she didn’t take preventive screening seriously. Jane had moderately high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and was constantly stressed. She also struggled to sleep and had menopause symptoms of night sweats and irritability.
While at work, Jane felt chest pressure, dizziness, and nausea but pushed through it. The discomfort continued to worsen, and she decided to go to the ER. Despite telling the staff she thought she was having a heart attack, she waited four hours in the waiting room, throwing up from the growing pain. Her ECG came back normal, so they assumed it wasn’t urgent. When Jane was finally evaluated, her troponin levels were over 1000, showing she was having a heart attack. It was then that Jane was taken for more tests and treated.
Takeaway Tip:
Women’s heart disease symptoms don’t always look like men’s. The old protocols were built around men’s experiences, leaving many women overlooked. Every woman needs to understand her heart disease risk, how to reduce it, and how to advocate for herself. If you want more good years, don’t ignore the warning signs—take charge of your heart health.
