We all know men are from Mars and women from Venus. But that isn’t the only difference. Response to heart disease between genders is worth paying attention to, especially if you’re a woman!
- Women may be more likely to confuse heart disease with other issues. Men typically feel an obvious crushing pain in their chest, while women are more likely to feel brief pain in the upper abdomen or back, nausea, shortness of breath, and sweating.
- Men diagnosed with heart disease are, on average, about 10 years younger than women diagnosed with heart disease. This may be because women’s symptoms are less typical than men’s symptoms.
- A woman’s risk for cardiovascular disease significantly increases after menopause.
- Sudden cardiac death is more common in men.
- A family history of heart disease is significant for both men and women.
- Women are more likely to experience heart palpitations than men.
- In addition to shared risk factors, diseases only found in women, such as polycystic ovary disease and endometriosis, may increase the risk of coronary artery disease.
- Men are likely to experience a heart attack earlier in life.
- Heart attacks in women frequently have more serious consequences, and the recovery period may last longer.
Women: pay attention to what your heart and body tell you.
Learn more about Women’s Heart Health.
