A Woman Who Has Both Hands Placed Over Her Chest Where Her Heart Is.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. 

Schedule your CT scan today. 

What Is Heart Disease?

According to the CDC, heart disease refers to various conditions that affect the heart. The most common heart condition is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD results when plaque builds up in the arteries, which causes decreased blood flow to the heart. If not caught early and treated, this can lead to a heart attack. 

What Are the Early Signs of Heart Disease in Women? 

According to the CDC, signs of heart disease can include:

  • Angina (A dull ache or heavy discomfort in the chest)
  • Neck, jaw, or throat pain
  • Pain in the back or upper abdomen
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Persistent and excessive tiredness 

How Are Heart Disease Symptoms Different In Women Compared To Men? 

According to a 2022 article in Harvard Health, women are more likely to experience “atypical” symptoms of a heart attack, such as nausea, fatigue, and shortness of breath.  

Can Women Experience Heart Disease Without Chest Pain?

Yes. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is even possible to experience a heart attack without chest pain.

What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of A Heart Attack In Women? 

According to the Mayo Clinic, heart attack symptoms can include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or upper abdomen
  • Breathlessness
  • Arm pain (One or both arms)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Indigestion
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling lightheaded
  • Unusual tiredness 

Are Women More Likely To Experience Silent Heart Attacks?

According to the Office on Women’s Health, yes. Silent heart attacks (heart attacks without noticeable symptoms) are more common in women than men. 

What Are The Risk Factors For Heart Disease In Women? 

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are risk factors for heart disease for everyone:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Inactivity
  • Diabetes (Even more likely than diabetic men to develop heart disease.)
  • Smoking (An even higher risk factor for women than men.)
  • Family history of heart disease (An even higher risk for women than men.)
  • Inflammatory diseases
  • Depression and stress (An even higher risk for women than men. Stress may actually be a trigger for heart attacks in women, according to the Mayo Clinic.)

According to the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine, these are risk factors specific to women:

  • Pregnancy complications (High blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy make these issues more likely later on.)
  • Menopause (Low estrogen levels during menopause have been connected to a higher risk of developing heart disease.)
  • High testosterone levels before menopause
  • Elevated blood pressure during menopause 

Can Younger Women Develop Heart Disease? 

Yes. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH), as many as 75% of women between the ages of 20-39 have one or more risk factors for heart disease. 

What Tests Are Used To Diagnose Heart Disease In Women?

Harvard Health Medicine notes that women are less likely to be referred for diagnostic testing by a specialist. Therefore, it’s important to insist upon testing when you know something isn’t right with your body.

Diagnostic testing to check for heart disease can include any of the following tests:

  • Blood tests: Checking for a certain protein present after a heart attack is done to confirm a heart attack. Testing for a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) can be done to check for inflammation in your arteries.
  • X-ray: An X-ray of the chest.
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG): Checks the electrical signals in the heart.
  • Holter monitor: A monitor worn for an extended period to check for irregular heartbeats.
  • Echocardiogram: Uses sound waves to get detailed images of how your blood moves through your heart.
  • Exercise/stress test: Tests how the heart handles physical activity and whether physical activity triggers symptoms.
  • Cardiac catheterization: A thin flexible tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided into the heart to insert a dye. This allows the arteries and blood vessels to show up better on an X-ray.
  • Heart CT scan: A noninvasive procedure where you lie on a table, and an X-ray machine rotates around you to take detailed images of your heart.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the heart: Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to get a detailed look inside your heart.

How Is Heart Disease Treated In Women? 

Treatment can include:

  • Lifestyle changes
  • Medication(s)
  • Angioplasty
  • Stenting
  • Coronary bypass surgery (Women are less likely than men to be recommended for this procedure — perhaps due to smaller blood vessels)
  • Cardiac rehabilitation   

What Lifestyle Changes Can Women Make To Reduce Their Risk Of Heart Disease?

These lifestyle changes drastically reduce your chances of heart disease:

  • Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
  • Maintain a healthy diet (Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy, and lean meats. Avoid foods high in trans fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt.)
  • Exercise regularly (Exercise keeps the heart healthy and assists with keeping weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in check.)
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Control stress (Stress can cause the arteries to become tight.)
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Follow treatment plans (Keeping other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., in check assists in keeping your heart healthy.)
  • Take control of your risk factors (Regularly monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.)

How Do I Make Sure I’m Getting The Care I Need? 

Although heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women, heart disease remains undertreated for women. Studies suggest that women wait up to 11 minutes longer in emergency rooms if they are experiencing similar symptoms of a heart attack compared to men. 

Be An Advocate For Yourself 

The Mayo Clinic notes that women are less likely to be prescribed aspirin (despite research showing similar benefits) and are less likely to be referred to cardiac rehabilitation than men. Therefore, be aware of what testing should be done to check for heart disease and heart attack and insist they do it. 

Get A Preventative Heart Scan 

What is a preventative scan? A preventative medical scan is a diagnostic scan that assists doctors in knowing the condition of your heart health. In this case, a heart CT scan would check for plaque (or calcium) buildup in the arteries.

Check out the Preventative Diagnostic Center for a preventative medical scan near you. You can receive a noninvasive heart CT scan and better understand your risk factors. 

By staying diligent about your health and considering preventative health scans, you can live a longer and healthier life. 

Book Your CT Scan.

Sources:

About Women and Heart Disease. (2024).
Barouch, L. (n.d.). Heart Disease: Differences in Men and Women.
Corliss, J. (2022). The heart disease gender gap.
Heart attack symptoms. (2021).
Heart disease. (2024).
Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors. (2022).
Working to increase awareness of heart disease in women. (2024).