Facts About Heart Disease in Women

Far more women die of heart disease than cancer, but few females know either that fact or the symptoms that could kill them, according to the American Heart Association. Denial and disinformation have kept women in the dark about their risk for heart disease. Multiple studies in the past decade have established that symptoms and risks for women are much different than those for men.

History

• While females fear cancer, heart disease has killed more women than men for the past two decades, said Teresa Wilson, nurse practitioner in Vallejo, California. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, regardless of race or ethnicity, reports Sutter Solano's Cardio Center. "A woman's first 'warning sign' of heart disease may be a heart attack," it warns. "Heart attacks are not just a man's disease," said Wilson, who created a presentation called Women's HeartAdvantage in 2005 to educate community groups in women's risks for heart disease. "Their symptoms are different than men's."

Misinformation

• Many physicians are unaware of the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in women, reports the University of California at San Diego Medical Center. Women are often not completely screened or treated for cardiovascular disease risk factors. For much of medical history, heart attack symptoms were assumed to be the same for women as for men. When females were included in studies in the 21st century, their symptoms were much different, meaning they were less likely to be diagnosed and treated early, which is crucial to survival.

Symptoms

• The primary symptom for women is unexplained weakness or fatigue, according to Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, who published her findings in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Sleep disturbance and shortness of breath (panting) were next, with indigestion and anxiety next. Women who experience fatigue and shortness of breath should seek medical help immediately. Women feel pain between their shoulder blades or in the chest and they can experience nausea, vomiting, indigestion and stomach pain. "We want women to be aware of the symptoms so they can seek medical care when needed to lessen the damage," said Wilson.

Risk Factors

• Women with diabetes and women who are 20 or more pounds over their ideal weight run a greater risk of heart damage, according to the University of California at San Diego Medical Center. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can cause heart attacks and strokes. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, as does estrogen deficiency and lack of exercise. Heredity also plays a part in your risk factors. Have other women in your family had heart attacks or strokes?

Prevention and Action

• To reduce their risks, women should take countermeasures such as stopping smoking. The risks of excess weight are well known. Increasing activity for as little as a half-hour walk, three to four times a week, will contribute to maintaining a healthy weight. Doctors can prescribe medications to lower cholesterol or blood pressure. Women also need to learn the female symptoms of a heart attack so they can seek immediate treatment.