Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, yet gender bias continues to impact how it is diagnosed, prevented, and treated. Even with better health information, heart care isn’t equal for everyone. The impact of gender bias on women’s heart health is significant, as a recent review plainly shows. This bias affects diagnosis, treatment, and even research.

Women Are Underdiagnosed and Undertreated

The Myth of Heart Disease as a “Man’s Disease”

For decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been seen as a predominantly male issue. This false assumption has created Fewer women are diagnosed, even when they present with the same symptoms as men.

Missed Symptoms: When a Heart Attack Doesn’t Look Like a Heart Attack

Women’s heart attack symptoms often differ from men’s. While men frequently report the classic “crushing chest pain”, women may experience more subtle signs, including:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Jaw, neck, or back pain
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness

Because these symptoms don’t always fit the traditional medical profile, they are frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed as anxiety, stress, or digestive issues. The later a diagnosis is, the more serious the effects can be. Higher death rates and other problems are included.

Curious about your chances of getting heart disease? Check out BaleDoneen’s ‘Am I at Risk?’ guide for key warning signs.

Preventive Care for Women: A Critical Gap

Why Aren’t Women Getting the Same Preventive Treatment?

A healthy heart needs prevention. However, for women, this isn’t always easy. Many factors make it harder for them.
Lots of things make it tough to get good healthcare. Studies show that:

  • Women are less likely than men to receive statins or aspirin, two essential medications for heart disease prevention.
  • Women are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs at much lower rates — even though rehab has been proven to reduce heart disease risk and improve recovery.
  • Smoking cessation programs, a crucial intervention for heart health, are less frequently recommended to women.

Check out lifesaving facts to know about woman and heart health disease.

The Role of Gender Bias in Prevention

One major reason for this gap is that most preventive guidelines have been based on research conducted primarily in men. Women-specific risk factors such as pregnancy-related complications (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes), early menopause, and autoimmune diseases — are often overlooked.

A Call for Change: Better Prevention Strategies for Women

To improve heart health outcomes, we need:

  • Preventive guidelines tailored to women’s unique risk factors
  • Better screening tests for early detection of heart disease in women
  • More education for healthcare providers on gender differences in heart disease presentation

Get proactive about prevention: The BaleDoneen Method focuses on a personalized, science-backed approach to detecting and preventing heart disease before it becomes life-threatening.

Gender Disparities in Treatment: Unequal Care for Women

Are Women Receiving the Right Treatments?

Even when diagnosed with CVD, women receive less aggressive treatment than men. They are less likely to be:

  • Referred for coronary angiography or bypass surgery , even when medically necessary
  • Prescribed life-saving medications at the correct dosages
  • Given access to cutting-edge cardiovascular therapies

The Impact of Male-Dominated Research in Cardiology

Many of the most commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications were studied primarily in men. This raises concerns about whether:

  • Women receive the correct dosage of medications
  • Medications are as effective for women as they are for men
  • Side effects in women are properly understood and managed

Read more about gender disparities in cardiovascular care in this Harvard Health article.

The Way Forward: Gender-Sensitive Cardiovascular Care

What Needs to Change?

Closing the gender gap in cardiovascular care requires immediate action in research, education, and clinical practice:

  • Medical schools and training programs must include education on gender differences in CVD.
  • Clinical trials must enroll more women to develop gender-specific treatment guidelines.
  • Healthcare professionals must be trained to recognize atypical heart attack symptoms in women.

Equitable Healthcare Means Recognizing Gender Differences

Heart disease doesn’t look the same in men and women—and treatment shouldn’t either. The healthcare system needs to make sure that… Getting diagnosed, preventing disease, and getting treatment—these things should be available to everyone, regardless of background or circumstances.
It’s for all patients; men and women alike.

This Women’s Heart Month, Let’s Demand Change

The disparities in women’s cardiovascular care are not just oversights —they are systemic failures that put women’s lives at risk.

What are our options here?

  • Raise awareness about gender bias in heart disease care
  • Advocate for better research and funding in women’s heart health
  • Encourage women to prioritize heart health and seek medical attention for symptoms

Watch Dr. Amy’s Heart Talk here: https://vimeo.com/1056818402/d46ffa7625