Know Your Risk Before It Strikes
Your arteries could be hiding early disease. Find out today.
Which is a bigger threat to women: breast cancer or heart disease? If you answered “heart disease,” you are better informed than most U.S. women, according to a study by the American Heart Association (AHA). Researchers compared the results of two national surveys, taken 10 years apart, and found an alarming decline in women’s awareness of key facts about their number one health threat.
In 2009, 65 percent of the women surveyed knew that heart disease is the leading killer of U.S. women, claiming ten times as many lives each year as breast cancer. A 2019 poll found awareness had dropped to 44 percent.
Younger women were especially likely to be unaware of their risk, even though heart attack rates in this group are rising. Understanding heart disease prevention, causes, and symptoms is critical.
Women Have Different Heart Attack Symptoms
A recent study of young heart attack survivors found that women had more non-chest symptoms than men. These included nausea, stomach pain, esophageal pressure, burning, shortness of breath, and anxiety. The takeaway: If you feel different than ever before, consider that it might be your heart.
Women may notice warning signs days, weeks, or months before a heart attack. These can include unusual fatigue, sleep problems, and unexplained anxiety. Sadly, these are often overlooked by medical providers. If you have these issues, ask to be checked for coronary artery disease or other heart problems.
At the time of a heart attack, common symptoms for women include shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and heavy sweating. If these occur, call 911 immediately. Tell emergency staff you suspect a heart attack and insist on being tested. Fast treatment can save your life.
Many Women Are Diagnosed Only After a Heart Attack or Stroke
Heart disease in women often remains silent until it’s advanced enough to cause a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure symptoms. Early detection is essential for heart disease prevention.
Certain conditions raise cardiovascular risk factors for women:
- Migraine headaches with aura – Increases stroke risk by 90 percent later in life.
- High resting pulse – 76 beats per minute or higher raises heart attack risk by 26 percent.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – Triples heart disease risk and raises the chance of hypertension.
- Pregnancy complications – High blood pressure or preeclampsia increases future heart disease risk.
- Pre-term birth – Doubles the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
- Early menopause – Ages 40–44 increases cardiovascular risk by 55 percent.
- Caregiving stress – Raises heart disease risk by 17 percent and stroke risk by 36 percent.
- Autoimmune diseases – Lupus can raise heart attack risk up to 50 times; Sjögren’s doubles it.
Most Women Who Die Suddenly Had No Prior Diagnosis
Sixty-five percent of women who die suddenly from a heart attack were unaware they had heart disease. Medical bias remains a barrier, and many women are underdiagnosed and undertreated.
What to do:
- Ask for artery imaging tests like a coronary artery calcium scan or carotid intima media thickness ultrasound.
- Get tested for chronic inflammation, a major cause of plaque rupture and heart arrhythmias.
- Check for root causes beyond cholesterol, including insulin resistance and genetic factors.
- Follow diet tips and exercise plans designed for heart disease in women.
Dental Health and Heart Disease
A BaleDoneen study identified oral bacteria from gum disease as a contributing cause of heart disease, not just a risk factor. People with periodontitis are more than twice as likely to have heart attacks. Good oral health reduces blood vessel inflammation and lowers risk for heart disease, stroke, and even dementia.
FAQs
What are some interesting facts about heart disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and can often be prevented with healthy lifestyle habits.
What are 10 facts about the heart?
It pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood daily, beats 100,000 times a day, and can be affected by diet, exercise, sleep, stress, genetics, blood pressure, inflammation, oral health, hormones, and smoking.
What are the fast facts about heart disease?
It kills more women than all cancers combined, and many have no symptoms until late stages.
Can you live a long life with heart disease?
Yes, with early detection, treatment, healthy diet tips, and regular exercise, many people live for decades.
About the Author: Ed Price
