Here we are going to share information on the topic “Symptoms of heart disease in females.” Chest, neck, jaw, or back pain can all be symptoms of heart disease. Nonetheless, various symptoms may arise from cardiac disease in women. “Atypical” symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or no symptoms at all are more common in women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source, the leading cause of mortality in the US for women is heart disease. Only 56% of people are aware of the risk, though.
This article examines female heart disease symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It also examines treatment differences between genders and ways to reduce the risk.
Symptoms of heart disease in females
Symptoms
Depending on the type of heart disease a person has, their symptoms can change. Typical indications include the following:
Angina, a term for pain resulting from blood artery blockages, can produce discomfort in the jaw, neck, throat, upper abdomen, or back in addition to chest pain and shortness of breath when exercising.
But there are important distinctions between the symptoms of heart disease in men and women Trusted Source. In contrast to men, women are:
- less likely to exhibit coronary artery disease symptoms (CAD)
- comparatively less likely to get chest pain
More likely to have side effects such as
- nausea
- vomiting
- exhaustion
- dizziness
- stomach pain that may not seem to be connected to the heart
more likely to develop angina that does not improve with rest or that happens during everyday activities as opposed to physical activity
These variations have physiological causes. Women often have narrower blood veins than men do and therefore experience “heart discomfort” in various ways.
Additionally, they have a higher risk of developing cardiac diseases such as microvascular disease, which have less evident symptoms. This means that although CAD typically involves macrovascular disease or blockages in the heart’s “highways,” women may experience blockages in the heart’s minor blood vessels, or “side roads.”
A person should immediately seek medical attention if they exhibit any symptoms that might point to heart disease.
Diagnosis
In order to identify cardiac disease, a physician will usually:
Obtain a medical history.
Physicians may inquire about a patient’s overall health and way of life, as well as when the symptoms started and whether anything makes them worse or better.
Conduct blood tests.
These could include tests for organ function, salt and potassium levels, lipid profiles, C-reactive protein, and complete blood counts.
Conduct noninvasive testing:
This could involve a stress test, cardiac MRI, arrhythmia monitor, electrocardiogram (EKG), or echocardiography.
Conduct invasive tests.
Physicians may conduct more invasive tests if they require further information. A cardiac catheterization, in which a physician places a wire in an artery to monitor blood flow in tiny blood vessels, may be necessary in this situation.
Even if a person has little or no symptoms, a doctor may still order these tests if they have heart disease risk factors.
Treatment
A person’s heart disease treatment is based on various aspects, including the kind of heart disease, its severity, and any coexisting illnesses. It could include a mix of:
- Medication to control blood pressure
- Decrease cholesterol
- Avoid blood clots
- Surgical procedures
- Dietary
- Lifestyle modifications
For some people, controlling their weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure with diet and lifestyle modifications is sufficient to lower their risk of heart disease. There is a relationship between stress and hypertension which affects heart disease. People who have cardiac problems, however, could require medication. Typical instances Among the reliable sources are:
- Beta-blockers
- Blockers of calcium channels and ACE inhibitors
- Anticoagulants
- Nitrates
- Statins
- Aspirin
More advanced heart disease patients can require surgery. This might consist of:
- Percutaneous coronary intervention for stent placement or artery opening
- Coronary artery bypass surgery to replace valves
- Fix a pacemaker
- Implant a balloon catheter in order to clear blocked arteries
- Surgery using a maze to reroute the heart’s electrical signals and treat atrial fibrillation
To what extent does heart disease affect women?
- In the US, heart disease is prevalent in women. One in five deaths nationally is attributed to it, making it the leading cause of mortality for both black and white females.
- About the same number of American Indian and Alaska Native women die from heart disease as from cancer.
- Heart disease ranks as the second most common cause of mortality for female Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander individuals.
Symptoms of heart disease in females
Female cardiac disease risk factors
Females are more susceptible to heart disease due to a number of variables, such as:
- smoking
- genetics
- Air contamination
- Lack of exercise
- Sleep deprivation, an unbalanced diet, mental illness, stress, and handling harmful chemicals
- Working long hours or in shifts that interfere with sleep
- Inflammatory autoimmune disorders
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Elevated blood pressure
- Elevated cholesterol and metabolic syndrome
- Diabetes mellitus HIV/AIDS
- Persistent renal illness
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian polycystic syndrome
- Anemia, particularly in the course of pregnancy
- Low birth weight, eclampsia or preeclampsia during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes
- Use of hormonal contraceptives
Certain risk factors, such as obesity and pregnancy-related risk factors, are more prevalent in women. Some have a more noticeable effect on women’s heart disease risk. Diabetes and smoking are two examples.
Because of the influence of estrogen, age also has a distinct effect on risk in females than in males. As estrogen’s levels drop after menopause, women’s risk of heart disease rises. Therefore, women who go through early menopause before turning 40 are more likely to develop heart disease.
Are men and women different from one another?
In general, women with heart disease in the US receive less prompt and high-quality care than men do.
In contrast to men, women are more likely to experience delays in getting an EKG when they visit a hospital for symptoms that might point to cardiac disease, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Young females are more likely to obtain an inaccurate diagnosis after a cardiac incident, and doctors are also less likely to do diagnostic tests for CAD in them. Misdiagnosis and patients leaving the hospital without treatment are possible outcomes of this.
When they do acquire a diagnosis, women encounter additional challenges. In contrast to men, they are:
- statins are 45 percent less likely to be prescribed
- Beta blockers are 35% less likely to be prescribed.
- More than 28% are more likely to go to the ER (ER) and less likely to see a cardiac specialist for treatment more than twice a year
- less likely to get procedures like a coronary bypass or percutaneous coronary intervention; less likely to get a pacemaker or defibrillator
This affects female health outcomes and raises the risk of death. Also, visit to learn more about small vesicle Disease
Why do differences exist?
- While physiological disparities between the sexes contribute to the higher likelihood of clinicians overlooking heart disease symptoms in women, they may not entirely account for the worse care that follows a diagnosis. There is evidence to imply that sexism exists within the medical community.
- Women were much more likely than men to report issues with their healthcare, according to a big 2018 study (Trusted Source) that included 10,000 women with heart disease.
- Women were twenty percent more likely to say their doctor never or only sporadically gave them respect, and twenty percent more likely to say their doctor never or seldom listened to them. In general, 1 in 4 were not happy with their care.
- Even after the researchers adjusted for age, income, insurance status, education level, and ethnicity, these discrepancies persisted. This shows that women’s treatment for heart disease may be impacted by gender bias.
- There are several restrictions on the study. Of the women in the study, 75% were white, 14% were African Americans, 10% were Hispanics, and 2% were Asians. The impact of gendered racism on the prevalence or management of heart disease was not examined in this study.
- It’s possible that men and women have different standards for their doctors. These variations could also be explained by medication compliance. This would not, however, adequately account for the findings, since the study also discovered notable differences in the prescription of medications and ER visits.
Ways to lower your chance of heart disease
Women can lower their chance of heart disease by learning about the many diagnostic procedures and treatment choices, as well as by minimizing risk factors where they can.
People who are aware of this can better represent themselves and determine whether they are getting the treatment they need.
People can lower their chance of developing heart disease by:
- Consume a well-balanced diet that is high in fiber, low in salt, and low in saturated fat.
- Make time to exercise your heart on a regular basis.
- Sustain a reasonable weight.
- Quit smoking and drink in moderation.
- Keep an eye on your blood pressure.
- Lower your stress levels and get help for any mental health issues you may have.
Take care of any additional medical issues, such as sleep apnea, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
The NHLBI Trusted Source suggests the following to get ready for doctor appointments:
Understanding and discussing personal risk factors with a physician requesting routine screening to identify heart disease early and discovering the signs of heart disease in women and how they differ from “normal” symptoms like heaviness in the chest
Getting medical attention right away if they experience any symptoms, including unusual or ambiguous ones, and inquiring about certain tests and available treatments
It’s also critical to educate friends and family about the warning symptoms of female cardiac illness and the associated hazards.
Asking for assistance
Ladies who experience symptoms that seem mild or come and go and could be signs of heart disease should consult a doctor right away. These include exhaustion, nausea or vomiting, angina, and shortness of breath.
In the event that someone exhibits heart attack symptoms, they should contact 911 or the closest emergency room right away. Female heart attack symptoms could include any of the following:
- Chest pain and discomfort that may go away and return, usually in the middle or on the left side of the chest
- Feebleness or dizziness
- Breathlessness
- A chilly sweat in one or both arms; pain in the jaw, back, or neck
Conclusion
Symptoms of heart disease in females
In the United States, heart disease is highly prevalent in women. But many people—including medical professionals—underestimate the risk.
It’s critical to recognize the symptoms in order to identify heart disease early on. When it comes to getting healthcare, being aware of the diagnostic procedures and treatments that are accessible might be helpful. There is major issue with the heart disease.
Frequently asked questions
Symptoms of heart disease in females
What are the first signs of a heart disease in a woman?
Answer: Some women may experience the following initial heart disease symptoms:
Heart attack: chest pain or discomfort, neck or upper back pain, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, excessive exhaustion, vertigo, and dyspnea.
tingling sensations in the chest (palpitations)
How can I check my heart health at home?
Answer: Just below the base of the thumb, place your index and middle fingers on the other arm’s inner wrist. Your fingers ought to feel as though they are being tapped or pulsed. In ten seconds, count the number of taps you feel. For a minute, multiply that number by six to determine your heart rate.
What are the 4 signs your heart is quietly failing?
Answer: Heart failure symptoms
shortness of breath during or after exercise. experiencing constant fatigue and finding exercise to be draining. experiencing dizziness or passing out. legs and ankles swelling.
How do you confirm heart disease?
Answer: Electrocardiogram for diagnosis (ECG or EKG). The electrical signals in the heart are recorded by a simple and painless examination called an ECG.
- Holter monitoring
- Echocardiograms
- Stress or exercise testing, etc.
- Catheterization of the heart.
- Cardiovascular CT scan
- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How can I make my heart strong?
Answer: You can: Eat a nutritious diet to help prevent heart disease.
- Take action.
- Continue to eat healthfully.
- Give up smoking and avoid being around secondhand smoke.
- Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Only use alcohol sparingly.
- Control your tension.
What is Stage 1 heart failure?
Answer: Stage A, often known as pre-heart failure, indicates that you have one or more of the following medical disorders, a family history of congestive heart failure, or are otherwise highly susceptible to developing heart failure: Hypertension. Diabetes. heart artery disease.