The silent killer: The truth about heart disease in women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for one-third of all deaths each year (more than all forms of cancer combined).

Yet, for many years, research into heart disease has focused on men, leading to misunderstandings and misinformation about the disease’s impact on women­—and to deaths that could have been prevented.

“Women often experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, and as a result, may not receive timely diagnosis and treatment, simply because their symptoms aren’t common knowledge,” says IU Health Cardiology nurse practitioner Jackie Helms.

For example, two-thirds of women who die after myocardial infarction (e.g., a heart attack) experienced no chest pains.

Risk factors for women

Many risk factors for heart disease affect both men and women, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, stress and family history.

“There are also risk factors specific to women,” says Helms. These include early onset menstruation and/or menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, gestational diabetes and preterm delivery. Black women are also more likely to develop heart disease, as are women who have gone through menopause.

“While experiencing one or more of these risk factors doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop heart disease, they are important risk factors to be aware of and discuss with your doctor,” says Helms.

Symptoms of heart disease in women

Generally, women develop symptoms of heart disease up to a decade later than men, on average.

“Just like there are risk factors that are unique to women, heart disease can present with different symptoms in women, too, especially when it comes to heart failure or heart attacks” says Helms.

While the elephant-on-your-chest metaphor for a heart attack is commonplace, women are more likely to experience symptoms in other parts of the body, such as in their neck, arms, jaw, left breast, shoulder or legs. Extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and numbness in the arms, hands or fingers can also be signs of a heart attack, especially in women.

“Women with heart failure have a higher chance of experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, especially when exercising, and noticeable swelling, called edema,” says Helms.

Take charge of your heart health by knowing your risk factors and talking with your doctor about ways you can prevent heart disease.