Img Alt - Mobile header
Back
General Topics

Five key facts women should know to maximize heart health

Did you know that heart health looks different for men and women?

For one, while heart disease is often thought of as predominantly a men’s health issue, that’s not really the case. Heart disease is only slightly more common in men and remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide1.

Also, women experience heart-related issues differently than men, with different symptoms. Here are five essential facts about the differences between men’s and women’s heart health.

Women are less likely to have the ‘classic’ signs of a heart attack

When you think of heart attack, you probably think of a person clutching their chest.

Chest pain is the most common symptom of heart attack, but one that occurs more frequently in men. In one study, nearly half of women didn’t display the classic signs of a heart attack2.

Women are more likely than men to have vague, non-classic symptoms. These include pain in the back, neck, or jaw, stomach pain, sweating, and experiencing fatigue3. Women also tend to have symptoms more often when resting, or asleep4.

Women’s risk of heart disease increases after menopause starts

There is a connection between menopause and heart disease. At a young age, women are somewhat protected against heart disease by hormones such as estrogen. However, this ‘advantage’ disappears once they enter menopause. That’s why, on average, women get heart disease about 10 years later than men5.

While heart disease is more common in younger men than younger women, this gap closes considerably in middle age6. It’s thought to be due to the decline in estrogen in women after menopause, because estrogen is a heart-protective hormone6.

If you are going through menopause, or if you experienced menopause early, consider talking to your doctor about ways to keep your heart healthy.

Women are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol as they get older

High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – is a risk factor for heart disease. Until about age 65, high blood pressure is more common in men. However, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure around or after the age of 657. The same is true of high cholesterol levels for women8. There are several potential reasons for this, but declining levels of estrogen is also a likely factor9.

“Heart disease can often be asymptomatic, meaning it may not present specific symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to undergo regular testing for silent indicators such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure. This proactive approach enables you to manage your heart health effectively and lead a healthier life,” said Dr. Eran Gefen, Head of Global Medical Affairs & Pharmacovigilance at Abbott’s medicines business.

Diabetes and smoking are big risk factors

Women with type 2 diabetes are 50% more likely to develop heart disease than men with diabetes10.

There are several potential reasons for this. For instance, a significant number of women already have heart issues when they learn they have type 2 diabetes11.

Similarly, women who start smoking have a 25% increased risk of developing heart disease compared to men who take up the habit, although the reasons are unclear12. Smoking and heart disease are closely linked – quitting smoking is a really important step to help reduce the risk of heart disease13.

Women are underdiagnosed and undertreated

A consistent challenge for women is that they are less likely to be correctly diagnosed and treated for heart disease risk factors and conditions. According to a study, women are 24% less likely to be prescribed statins to treat high cholesterol and 48% more likely to be prescribed an inappropriate dose compared to men14.

“There remains a risk of women not receiving the appropriate diagnosis or care,” said Dr. Gefen. “It is important that everyone is educated about the potential risk factors of heart disease in women. This will help give men and women equal opportunity to get the care they need.”

No matter your gender, you can take important steps to improve your heart health. This could include making lifestyle changes. For example, exercising, adopting a healthy diet, quitting smoking and reducing your alcohol intake. It’s also important to know where you stand with risk factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure that are unique to each person. Knowing your risk factors and making lifestyle adjustments can help you take care of your heart and maximize your health potential.

Reference

  1. Woodward M. Cardiovascular Disease and the Female Disadvantage. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Apr 1;16(7):1165. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16071165.
  2. Milner KA, Vaccarino V, Arnold AL, Funk M, Goldberg RJ. Gender and age differences in chief complaints of acute myocardial infarction (Worcester Heart Attack Study). Am J Cardiol. 2004 Mar 1;93(5):606-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2003.11.028.
  3. WebMD. 6 Symptoms of Women’s Heart Attacks. 2023. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/womens-heart-attack-symptoms
  4. Mayo Clinic. Heart disease in women. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167
  5. Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma S. Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Understanding Symptoms and Risk Factors. Eur Cardiol. 2017 Aug;12(1):10-13. doi: 10.15420/ecr.2016:32:1.
  6. Iorga A, Cunningham CM, Moazeni S, Ruffenach G, Umar S, Eghbali M. The protective role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in cardiovascular disease and the controversial use of estrogen therapy. Biol Sex Differ. 2017 Oct 24;8(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13293-017-0152-8.
  7. NHS England. Health Survey for England, 2021 part 2. 2023. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2021-part-2/adult-health-cholesterol
  8. NHS England. Health Survey for England, 2021 part 2. 2023. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2021-part-2/adult-health-hypertension
  9. Lima R, Wofford M, Reckelhoff JF. Hypertension in postmenopausal women. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2012 Jun;14(3):254-60. doi: 10.1007/s11906-012-0260-0.
  10. Huxley R., Barzi F., Woodward M. Excess risk of fatal coronary heart disease associated with diabetes in men and women: Meta-analysis of 37 prospective cohort studies. BMJ. 2006;332:73–78. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38678.389583.7C.
  11. American Heart Association News. Why are women with diabetes at greater risk for poor heart health? Available at : https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/05/14/why-are-women-with-diabetes-at-greater-risk-for-poor-heart-health.
  12. Huxley RR, Woodward M. Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for coronary heart disease in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Lancet. 2011 Oct 8;378(9799):1297-305. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60781-2.
  13. NIH. Smoking and Your Heart – Benefits of Quitting Smoking. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/smoking/benefits-to-quit
  14. Ballo P., Balzi D., Barchielli A., Turco L., Franconi F., Zuppiroli A. Gender differences in statin prescription rates, adequacy of dosing, and association of statin therapy with outcome after heart failure hospitalization: A retrospective analysis in a community setting. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2016;72:311–319. doi: 10.1007/s00228-015-1980-2.