Understanding the Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases on Women’s Health

Through ongoing education, most people are familiar with the signs of cardiovascular disease, however, in men. Since symptoms of heart disease have been extensively studied in men, this serves as our guideline for determining whether we should see a doctor. However, the danger is that heart disease in women is more frequently overlooked due to a lack of education, information, and women presenting different symptoms than men. The result is often an overlooked or missed diagnosis.

About 89%-90% of Canadian women are unaware that the most significant cause of premature death is heart disease and stroke. In this article, we will outline what to look for and teach you how to reduce your risks.

Women and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

The most common forms of CVD in women include:

• Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery/Heart Disease/CAD): Involves a buildup of plaque within the walls of your arteries. This issue hardens and narrows the arteries (atherosclerosis), making it difficult for your heart to receive the blood supply it needs.
• Heart Failure: Happens when the heart becomes too weak to pump an adequate blood supply to support the body’s organs.
• Arrhythmia: Happens when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
• Angina: This describes chest discomfort and pain occurring during high stress/physical activity. It usually stops with rest.
• Coronary Microvascular Disease (MVD): MVD affects the lining and walls of the small blood vessels stemming from the coronary arteries. It can decrease blood flow to your heart, generating permanent damage.

In women, coronary heart disease is the most prevalent and the leading cause of death.

Risk Factors

• Early age of the first period (before 11) or late menstruation (over 14)
• The use of contraceptives (injections, implants, vaginal rings, patches, combined oral contraceptives). Estrogen-based contraception can increase your risk of blood clots, causing a heart attack or stroke. Those using birth control over age 35 have an increased risk if they have additional factors like some existing medical conditions, smoking, high blood pressure, or medical complications during pregnancy.
• Post-menopausal (more prevalent in early menopause occurring before age 40)
• Breast cancer
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Had a hysterectomy
• Delivery of high or low birth weight children
• Pregnancy complications (hypertensive issues, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, recurring miscarriages)
• Autoimmune diseases
• High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Psychosocial factors like depression and stress
• Unhealthy lifestyle (sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, too much alcohol)

Why are women unfamiliar with the risks?

While women are becoming more aware of the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, the primary issue becomes education and information. Furthermore, women have different risk profiles than men. Women tend to have atypical heart attack symptoms and can have a less intense, wider range of symptoms when a heart attack occurs.

Other misconceptions about women’s heart health include:

• Lifestyle risks: 60% of females have lifestyle attributes that place them at high risk for CVD. However, they falsely believe they are at low to moderate risk.
• High-risk misconceptions: About 93.3% of women are classified as high risk because of medical attributes. They falsely assess their risk as low to moderate.
• General knowledge: Only 25% of women score in the high range of knowledge about heart disease.
• Low knowledge: Women understand how physical activity, body weight, and diet contribute to heart disease. However, they have a limited understanding of how diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, and high blood pressure impact CVD.
• Unrecognized symptoms: About 53% of women who had a heart attack had symptoms that went unrecognized.
• Belief that CVD is a singular episode: Only 65% of women were aware CVD is a chronic condition requiring ongoing management, while 35% thought their heart was fixed and that they could return to their previous habits.
• Early Signs Missed: 78% of women failed to recognize the early warning signs.

Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

For both genders:

• Discomfort
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath (without or with chest discomfort)

In women:

• Nausea
• Cold sweat outbreaks
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations
• Vomiting or indigestion
• Unexplained fatigue not alleviated with rest
• Tightness or squeezing in the centre of your chest
• Discomfort or pain in your upper body, which can radiate into the jaw or back instead of the chest. These symptoms can cause a misdiagnosis of dental issues or musculoskeletal conditions.

Furthermore, women tend to report milder symptoms or experience symptoms without chest pain related to having a heart attack, causing delayed or missed diagnosis.

Little-Known Biological Facts

Women can also experience non-traditional symptoms when experiencing a heart attack. Some may report acid reflux not resolved by taking antacids, tightness in their mid-back, severe shortness of breath, or squeezing pain in the throat while having a heart attack.

In addition to symptoms, biologically, women have smaller coronary arteries than men do. This difference affects the detection and presentation of cardiovascular disease. Smaller arteries are more difficult to locate and treat during stenting and angiography procedures.

Also, as a woman approaches menopause, estrogen decreases. Estrogen improves blood flow and vascular elasticity and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. As levels decline, your risk for CVD significantly rises.

Reducing Your Risks

Mitigating your heart attack risk begins by recognizing that it is a serious health concern and shouldn’t be dismissed or ignored. Knowing about the dangers of heart disease in women and the range of symptoms can motivate people to make healthier lifestyle choices.

The best way to reduce your risk is to maintain a healthy diet and participate in regular cardiovascular exercise. These activities are things women can begin immediately with positive results. Remaining proactive and informed can make a substantial difference in your future.

How Aspire Cardiology Proactively Detects Heart Disease in Women

You don’t have to wait until you have heart issues to detect heart disease in women. We recommend that our patients be proactive about their heart health by having regular cardiology consultations. Our consultations provide strategies and insights for maintaining good heart health. We outline the risks you may have and how to lead a healthier life to reduce your risk of CVD.

Why wait until something serious happens? Take a proactive approach to your health by contacting us at 647-503-0454, emailing us at admin@aspirecardiology.com, or booking a consultation online.