Gender & Heart Disease

Heart disease has traditionally been though of as a male disease, but the condition is actually the number one killer of women. Men and women react to heart disease differently, but a number of the symptoms have similar effects for both sexes.

Arrhythmia

• Men are more likely to experience heart disease symptoms like arrhythmia, which is when the heart starts to beat at an abnormal rate. The heart is supposed to beat between 60 and 100 times every minute, so rates above or below this could indicate heart disease.

Fatigue

• According to the American Heart Association, more than 70 percent of women who develop heart disease experience extreme fatigue about a month before being diagnosed. Fatigue can be a sign of several health problems for women, such as menopause or fibromyalgia, but since heart disease is such a serious health concern with women, it's important to see a doctor whenever fatigue persists.

Heart Failure

• Heart failure, a sign of heart disease that is mostly experienced by males, occurs when the heart is not pumping the way it should. Older men, over the age of 65, are more likely to experience heart failure.

Medication/Recovery

• Women are less likely than men to recover well from invasive heart surgery or from taking clot-busting medications. This is why it is so important to get checked at the first symptoms of a heart attack, which can show up weeks before the attack takes place. These include unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, heart racing, and anxiety.

Reducing the Risk

• Men and women are encouraged to stop smoking to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Individuals with diabetes are also more likely to contract heart disease, so maintaining a healthy diet that is low in cholesterol may be helpful.