Signs Of Heart Problems In Women

Heart disease is one of the serious diseases in women around the world, but its signs are misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or completely missed. However, heart problems in women can have milder, more subtle symptoms than the crushing chest pain or other specific pains that men experience. That makes early detection more difficult and more critical. 

At BaleDoneen, we advocate that women are vigilant about maintaining their personalized, proactive heart health, and that women in particular should know that they are at risk. Knowing the risk factors as well as the symptoms and signs of heart problems in women that may be indicative of heart issues can be life-saving. 

This article examines these essential elements and provides a summary of what women need to know about their hearts and the prevention of heart disease.  

Heart Disease In Women: An Overlooked Epidemic

Many people think of heart disease as a “man’s disease.” But the numbers say otherwise. Heart disease accounts for about 1 in 5 female deaths in the United States, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Women from all races and ethnicities are at risk, though it has been studied that African American and Hispanic women frequently have an even higher risk because of differences in access to care and awareness. 

What makes heart disease especially dangerous in women is that it often develops silently. Crushing chest pain is not experienced by many women. Instead, they can develop symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, or nausea that can be overlooked as belonging to a milder condition. Accordingly, many of these women postpone seeking treatment until their problem has advanced. 

Unique Risk Factors For Women

Although many of the risk factors of heart disease affect men and women, some factors play a bigger role in women. If we can highlight these, we can help pinpoint the people who are at a greater risk:

1. Hormonal Changes

Women experience significant hormonal fluctuations in pregnancy, during menopause, and when menstruating. Estrogen that helps defend arterial health dips after menopause, however, and the decline is particularly alarming. Less estrogen can also result in stiffer arteries and higher blood pressure. Here is the complete guide on menopause and heart risks!

2. Pregnancy-Related Complications

Conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension heighten a woman’s risk of developing heart disease later in life. Regrettably, many of these complications are not linked to long-term heart risks by most doctors. 

3. Autoimmune Diseases

Women have higher rates of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, than men. These are attached to chronic inflammation, which can harm blood vessels and leave people vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes.

4. Mental Health and Stress

Depression, anxiety, and chronic stress are more common in women and are major contributors to heart disease. Stress could also promote unhealthy lifestyles, including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking, increasing CVD risk with these behaviors. 

5. Diabetes

Diabetes is even more of a risk for women to develop heart disease than it is for men. In reality, women with diabetes are four to six times more likely to get heart disease than those without the disease. 

Common Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

It’s crucial to know the signs of heart disease in women, as they can be different when compared to the signs men experience. Here are some of the most frequent and frequently disregarded symptoms: 

1. Unusual Fatigue

More than 70% of women experience severe exhaustion before a heart attack. Not just your common tiredness after a long day, but an overwhelming fatigue that affects their ability to function throughout the day and is not improved by sleep. 

2. Shortness of Breath

Continuous, difficult breathing, particularly with everyday activities such as climbing stairs or walking, could mean the heart isn’t pumping effectively. 

3. Nausea or Indigestion

Women can be nauseated or have indigestion or even vomit. These are symptoms we commonly associate with a stomach bug or acid reflux.

4. Chest Pain or Discomfort

While chest pain is still the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women, women frequently have a hard time identifying that symptom because it’s more often felt as pressure, squeezing, fullness, or burning. It may or may not be the left, and other symptoms can accompany it. 

5. Pain in the Neck, Jaw, or Back

Women are more likely than men to have pain in other parts of the body during a heart attack. Those may be in the upper back, neck, or jaw, and the pain can be gradual or all at once. 

6. Cold Sweats and Dizziness

Cold sweats, lightheadedness, and even dizziness in some cases are symptoms commonly associated with panic attacks or perimenopause. Still, they can also be a sign that blood flow to the brain is being restricted due to heart problems. 

Warning Signs That Should Never Be Ignored

Warning signs of heart problems in women require you to seek emergency medical help. Whether mild or severe, those symptoms should never be shrugged off, especially if they seem to come on suddenly or get worse rapidly. 

• Abrupt, unusual fatigue or shortness of breath without exercise
• Pressure-like chest pain that does not get better when you rest
• Pain in the arm, jaw, or back
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet that can’t be accounted for
• Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
• Fainting or near-fainting episodes

Even if the symptoms are not persistent, they can signal heart problems. Women should be urged to seek medical assessment early, and not to be deterred from having their symptoms taken seriously.

Symptoms of Heart Blockage in Females

Clogged heart, or CAD, is a condition that occurs when the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood are narrowed or blocked by a thick buildup of plaque. In women, CAD may present in an atypical way compared to men: 

1. Silent Ischemia

Women are more likely to have what’s known as “silent ischemia” when blood flow to the heart is reduced without obvious symptoms such as chest pain. This can still lead to damage and the risk of heart attacks.

2. Microvascular Disease

Rather than blockages in the larger arteries in the heart, women are more prone to microvascular disease, which affects the tiny arteries in the heart. This might cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, but it may not be visible on standard angiograms. 

3. Unusual Pain Patterns

In women, pain may not always start in the chest. It may also not be as overt a symptom as it is for men. Those with buildup in their arteries, for example, often feel pain in the neck, shoulder, or upper back (or not in the chest itself) rather than in the chest. This unusual pain can complicate the diagnosis. 

4. Exercise Intolerance

A significant decline in the ability to exercise or carry out physical tasks may suggest that the heart is not getting enough blood as a result of blocked arteries. 

5. Persistent Dizziness or Lightheadedness

Although these may be due to a number of things, long-standing or recurrent episodes indicate that the brain may not be receiving sufficient oxygenated blood, likely from decreased cardiac output. 

Taking Action: What Women Can Do

Coverage for a healthy heart begins with knowledge and personal attention. At BaleDoneen, we personalize evidence-based approaches based on your risk profile. Below are a few crucial steps any woman can take:

• Know your numbers: Blood pressure, cholesterol level, glucose level, and inflammatory markers.
• Get checked regularly: At least annual visits. Your clinician should focus on the assessment of cardiovascular risk.
• Embrace a heart-healthy lifestyle: Mediterranean-type diet, regular cardiovascular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep.
• Treat underlying conditions: Take a proactive approach in managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases.

Be your advocate: If you feel like something is off, make yourself heard and insist upon thorough testing.

Conclusion

Heart disease in women can no longer be ignored or underestimated. The signs of heart problems in women are real, yet they are frequently so subtle they’re left off or dismissed. 

The solution to reducing the effects of cardiovascular disease is knowledge, early recognition, and aggressive treatment. 

At BaleDoneen, we don’t think women should leave their most precious organ, the heart, vulnerable just because they happened to have been born female. 

Do not wait if you or a loved one is having any of the symptoms described above. Your heart and your life may depend on taking action today.

FAQs

What are the first signs of heart disease in women?

The initial symptoms may involve feeling more tired than usual, experiencing shortness of breath, or chest tightness. Other symptoms, such as nausea, back, or jaw pain, may also be subtle. 

How can I tell if I have an unhealthy heart?

Some of the expressions of an unhealthy heart are constant tiredness, abnormal heart rate, swelling of the legs, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these, it is crucial to have your heart health checked.

What are the first signs of a weak heart?

A failing heart can lead to chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing even during light activity, and swelling in the ankles or feet. You may even feel lightheaded or have trouble lying flat without discomfort.

What is the most common heart problem for women?

In women, the most common heart problem is coronary artery disease (CAD). It is commonly the result of plaque buildup in the arteries and can have atypical symptoms, such as fatigue or nausea.