As a cardiologist, I see it happen far too often: women come to us later than they should, sometimes after weeks or even months of strange symptoms that were brushed off or wrongly diagnosed.
Despite the medical progress we’ve made, one thing hasn’t changed enough—heart disease in women is still under-recognized. I care deeply about changing that.
For a long time, most heart disease research focused on men.
This meant that the warning signs we learned about—like intense chest pain—were mostly true for men, not women. But women often experience different symptoms. In my experience, women don’t always have that dramatic, crushing chest pain we often see in movies.
Instead, they may feel unusually tired, short of breath, nauseous, dizzy, or have discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back. Sometimes they just feel anxious or have a gut feeling that something is wrong. These signs are easy to mis…
Thanks to better research and tools, we now know that women’s hearts behave differently in certain ways. Unfortunately, those differences can still be missed—by both patients and doctors.
Understanding your symptoms and knowing that they could be related to your heart is a big step. When I ask women if they’re worried about their heart, many say “no” because they didn’t think heart disease was something they had to worry about. That mindset leads to delays in diagnosis and care.
There are many reasons why women don’t get timely care. Their symptoms don’t always match the “classic” picture. They often put others first, especially mothers and caregivers.
They may have had their concerns dismissed by doctors in the past. Some face cost, transportation, or childcare issues. And there are fewer women in clinical trials, which makes it harder to understand how best to treat them.
Shockingly, only half of women even know that heart disease is their number one health risk. That’s a big reason why many don’t bring it up during regular check-ups. We need to change this, and we also need women to feel empowered to speak up.
I always tell my patients: you know your body better than anyone. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Say clearly what you’re feeling. Don’t hesitate to ask questions like: “Could this be my heart?”, “Can we check my heart risk factors?”, or “Can I see a cardiologist?”
The best defense against heart disease is prevention. Small changes in daily life can make a big difference. At UK HealthCare, we focus on education and prevention, because we know that most heart disease can be avoided with early action.
I encourage all women to quit smoking, stay active, eat healthy foods (like in the Mediterranean diet), control blood pressure and cholesterol, keep a healthy weight, know their family history, manage stress, and get enough sleep.
We’re also improving how we detect heart disease in women. High-sensitivity blood tests, like troponin tests, help us catch signs of heart damage earlier in women. We’re getting better at finding heart problems that don’t show up in standard tests, like microvascular dysfunction and non-obstructive coronary disease.
We now use advanced imaging like cardiac MRI and stress echocardiography more often, especially when symptoms don’t match test results. And we’re pushing for more research that includes women, so we can provide better care.
At UK HealthCare, we’re making women’s heart health a top priority. We’re working across medical fields—from OB-GYN to primary care to cardiology—to improve early detection and follow-up care. We’re also active in the community, offering screenings and raising awareness.
To all the women reading this—or to those who love one—please remember: heart disease isn’t just a man’s issue. It doesn’t always come with obvious warning signs. Listen to your body. Speak up. Ask questions. Don’t wait. We’re here to listen, support you, and take action—because your heart health matters just as much as anyone else’s.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
