What Disease Kills Women the Most?

Surprisingly it’s not cancer. It’s heart disease — and heart disease in women is not like heart disease in men

By Barbara Pierce

Heather Evans

Though important progress has been made in women’s health care over the past few decades, significant challenges still remain. Heart disease is a leading challenge in women’s health.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing more deaths than the top eight cancers combined,” said Heather Evans, executive director at American Heart Association in Mohawk Valley.

Heart disease is a general term that describes a range of conditions that affect the heart. It’s also called cardiovascular disease, which means diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels including coronary heart disease (clogged arteries), which can cause heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and peripheral artery disease. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

Heart disease happens gradually over time, while a heart attack occurs suddenly and is an emergency. Stroke, also an emergency, is a condition in which the brain can’t get enough blood flow because one or more blood vessels leading to the brain are blocked or have burst.

Heart disease in women remains under diagnosed and undertreated, said the CDC. There is the persistent and incorrect attitude that heart disease predominantly affects men. Treatment for women is regularly delayed and their symptoms are often dismissed or misdiagnosed.

Evans agrees with this: “Far too often, we hear that what a woman is experiencing is probably just a panic attack. Alarmingly, more younger women are experiencing cardiovascular issues, including stroke,” she said.

Despite the many medical advancements over the last several decades, some doctors still downplay women’s symptoms.

“Physicians are misled, particularly toward mental health alternative diagnoses for women,” stated the CDC, following its research on the misdiagnosis of heart disease in women.

“Physicians should be aware of the potential for psychological symptoms to erroneously take a central role in the diagnosis of younger women,” the CDC advised, evidence of the challenge that heart disease in women faces. Misdiagnosing a heart attack or stroke in a woman is common, especially for younger women. This means appropriate treatment does not happen.

Women need to become more aware of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of heart disease in women as they experience a heart attack differently than men. It’s important to know the difference.

Symptoms of a heart attack in a woman

“The most typical symptom of a heart attack is chest pain,” said Evans.

Some type of chest pain, pressure or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes.

But chest pain is not always severe or even the most noticeable symptom in women. Women often describe the pain as pressure or tightness. Some have a heart attack without chest pain.

Women are more likely than men to have symptoms that are not chest pain.

“Pain down an arm or in the jaw can be felt by men and women,” continued Evans. “Shortness of breath, back pain, shoulder pain and gastrointestinal distress are symptoms a woman has that can be a heart attack.”

“A symptom to really watch out for is fatigue,” she added. “Pay attention if it’s a different kind of fatigue than you’re used to. Know your body so you can recognize when something is different.”

Other symptoms of a heart attack include nausea or vomiting, sweating or heartburn, a feeling of indigestion.

Risk factors for women

“The number one risk factor is smoking,” said Evans. “If you smoke, quit. Work with your doctor to make a plan to quit tobacco.”

If you don’t smoke, don’t start.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is often underdiagnosed in women and many women do not have it under control. Black women are more likely to have high blood pressure than white women.

Know your blood pressure, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and dementia. High blood pressure has no symptoms. It’s important to check your blood pressure regularly and discuss elevated readings with your health care professional.

Other risk factors including being overweight, high cholesterol, stress and being sedentary, added Evans.

“The American Heart Association created ‘Life’s Essential 8,’ eight factors that help people live their optimal life,” said Evans. “They are not smoking; maintaining a healthy weight; keeping your blood pressure in a good range; having good cholesterol levels; getting enough sleep; having a healthy blood sugar level; exercising; and eating better. You can take a health assessment and see what you need to improve at mylifecheck.heart.org.”

When to call 911

If you have symptoms of a heart attack or think you’re having one, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don’t drive yourself to the emergency room unless you have no other options.

Active in Utica, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women is a national movement to raise awareness about heart disease in women.