Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, but its warning signs can be very different from those in men.
This has led to missed or delayed diagnoses in many women. Thankfully, researchers have been working hard to raise awareness of these differences and help women recognize symptoms early.
While men often experience crushing chest pain, women may have more subtle symptoms. According to the American Heart Association, women are more likely to feel fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and pain in the back or jaw. These symptoms may appear during rest or emotional stress—not just during physical activity.
A study published in Circulation found that 43% of women didn’t experience any chest pain during a heart attack. Instead, they had flu-like symptoms, indigestion, or extreme tiredness. Some even thought they had anxiety or a stomach bug.
Hormonal differences and smaller blood vessels may partly explain why symptoms are different. After menopause, women lose the protective effects of estrogen, which can increase heart risk. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and stress are especially dangerous for women.
It’s also common for women to downplay their symptoms or delay seeking help. This can be dangerous. If you feel “off,” unusually tired, or out of breath with mild activity, it’s important to listen to your body.
Doctors recommend regular check-ups and heart screenings for women over 40 or those with family history. Lifestyle habits—such as eating heart-healthy foods, exercising regularly, not smoking, and managing stress—can greatly lower risk.
By understanding that heart disease in women looks different, more lives can be saved. Knowledge is power, and early action makes a big difference.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that Changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and common type 2 diabetes drugs may raise heart risk.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
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