Supriya Ramesh • 25 Mar 2025
What Makes Heart Disease Different for Women And Are You at Risk?
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Though heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women, cardiovascular health presents unique challenges for women due to biological, hormonal, and lifestyle factors. Symptoms of heart disease in women often differ from those in men, complicating diagnosis.
Conditions such as pregnancy-related complications, menopause, and hormonal fluctuations further influence heart health. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. To explore the specific risks women face and the best strategies for prevention, we turn to Dr Sushant Srivastava, who sheds light on how women can better protect their heart health.
Sex-Specific Factors of Risk:
Hormonal Changes throughout Life: Puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and the use of hormonal contraceptives can affect cardiovascular health. For example, the decline in oestrogen during menopause increases the risk of heart disease.
Symptoms: Women often experience atypical symptoms during a heart attack, with classic chest pain being less common. This delay in diagnosis and treatment can occur as women may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, or jaw/arm pain instead.
Pregnancy-Related Conditions: Conditions like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia raise the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
Autoimmune Diseases: Autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Stress and Depression: Chronic stress and depression can contribute to heart disease by affecting blood pressure, cholesterol, and stress hormone responses.
Prevention Strategies:
Healthy Lifestyle
- Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats lowers cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of heart disease.
- Smoking: Quitting smoking greatly improves heart health.
Well-Checks
- Blood Pressure Screening: Regular monitoring helps detect and manage hypertension early.
- Cholesterol Screening: Routine checks manage cholesterol levels.
- Diabetes Screening: Regular screenings are important for those with risk factors like obesity or family history.
- Hormone Treatment: Women experiencing menopausal symptoms may consider hormone therapy but should weigh its risks and benefits with a healthcare provider.
- Stress Management: Techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing help reduce stress and its negative effects on heart health.
- Heart Health Awareness: Understanding heart disease risk factors allows women to take proactive steps to protect their health.
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