Introduction
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet many women are unaware of the subtle signs of heart disease. Women often experience different symptoms than men, and these symptoms can be easy to overlook. This article will discuss the subtle signs of heart disease in women, and how to recognize them. We will also provide tips on how to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and how to get the help you need if you think you may be at risk. By understanding the subtle signs of heart disease, women can take steps to protect their health and reduce their risk of developing this serious condition.
Subtle Signs of Heart Disease for Women — Eat This Not That
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet many women don’t recognize the subtle signs of heart disease. Women often experience different symptoms than men, and they may be more difficult to recognize. Here are some of the subtle signs of heart disease that women should be aware of.
1. Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is one of the most common signs of heart disease in women. It can be a sign of a heart attack, or it can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. If you experience shortness of breath, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
2. Chest Pain
Chest pain is another common symptom of heart disease in women. It can range from a mild discomfort to a sharp, stabbing pain. If you experience chest pain, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
3. Fatigue
Fatigue is another common symptom of heart disease in women. It can be a sign of a heart attack or a sign of a more serious underlying condition. If you experience fatigue, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
4. Swelling in the Legs and Feet
Swelling in the legs and feet can be a sign of heart disease in women. It can be a sign of a heart attack or a sign of a more serious underlying condition. If you experience swelling in the legs and feet, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
5. Dizziness or Lightheadedness
Dizziness or lightheadedness can be a sign of heart disease in women. It can be a sign of a heart attack or a sign of a more serious underlying condition. If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
Conclusion
Heart disease is a serious condition that can have serious consequences. It’s important to be aware of the subtle signs of heart disease in women so that you can seek medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s important to speak to your doctor.
It’s a common scenario. A woman in her 50s wakes up feeling nauseous. Dismissing it, she moves through her day, feeling a bit fatigued during her morning walk, even short of breath. Her friends urge her to go to the doctor after she experiences shooting pain in one arm. Despite thinking it’s nothing, she goes to the emergency room where she is put through a battery of tests. She is told there isn’t a blockage in one of the three main arteries, and that instead she may have a stomach issue or anxiety, and is sent home.
There is no major blockage, no chest pain. It couldn’t be a heart attack, right?
For years, the above scenario wouldn’t have merited a second thought. That’s because our understanding of heart attacks was, until recently, primarily based on men. And when men have heart attacks, they have chest pain due to blockages in heart arteries.
Doctors are now learning how different heart attacks and heart disease can be in men and women. “Broken heart syndrome,” the name used to describe a temporary condition that occurs when stressful or surprise situations cause sudden chest pain and tightness, is an example of a lesser-known type of cardiovascular disease that is more common in women than in men.
We spoke with Yale Medicine cardiologist Erica Spatz, MD, MHS, a clinical investigator for the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), which focuses on health care quality, about how the knowledge of women and heart disease is changing. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Yes. Hormonal cycles can affect women’s cardiovascular health. In the pre-menopausal years, estrogen is protective of the heart—estrogen relaxes the arteries and promotes good cholesterol. In the peri-menopausal years, however, as estrogen declines, there is an emergence of cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol and hypertension, including in women who previously had normal or even low cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. The incidence of heart disease in women starts going up around age 65—about 10 years later than in men, likely due to the protective effects of estrogen.