dorrisCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, claiming more than one in three lives each year. Shockingly, more than half of these deaths happen in women. In fact, every day in France, 400 people die from cardiovascular disease, and many of them are women.
What’s even more concerning is that women are experiencing heart issues at younger ages.
A recent study found that between 2009 and 2013, hospitalizations for heart attacks increased by 4.8% among women aged 45 to 54. This rise is linked to lifestyle changes over the past few decades, with women adopting habits like smoking, poor diets, and high levels of stress—just like men.
For years, many women believed they were protected from heart disease due to the natural hormonal protection they had before menopause. However, these protective benefits fade over time, and cardiovascular risks increase.
Unfortunately, women often don’t recognize the early signs of a heart attack.
Unlike men, who commonly experience sharp chest pain that radiates to the left arm or jaw, women tend to have different symptoms. These can be subtle and may occur together.
Here are five symptoms that women should watch for, especially if they have cardiovascular risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, or stress:
- Exhaustion
- Shortness of breath during physical activity
- Sharp pain in the back
- Digestive problems like nausea, discomfort, or burning sensations in the stomach
- Sudden palpitations (an irregular or racing heartbeat)
These symptoms may occur during regular daily activities or times of stress. In some cases, they can even wake a woman up at night. Along with these physical symptoms, anxiety is often present, which can act as a warning sign.
If any of these symptoms occur or repeat, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately.
Risk factors that increase the likelihood of heart disease in women include smoking, a lack of exercise, high cholesterol, and conditions like diabetes. Women over the age of 50 are especially at risk, as they tend to have higher cholesterol levels and more severe diabetes compared to men.
Women who use certain forms of contraception, are pregnant, or are going through menopause also face increased risks.
Unfortunately, women often experience delays in diagnosis and treatment. Their symptoms are often overlooked because they don’t fit the typical signs of heart disease. This leads to fewer stress tests, medications being under-prescribed, and less frequent rehab after heart events.
In response to this, an innovative healthcare pathway called Cœur–Artères–Femmes (Heart–Arteries–Women) has been developed at the University Hospital of Lille. This program aims to improve care by connecting different medical specialists to work together in treating women at risk. It ensures that healthcare providers better understand the unique risks women face and offers more personalized care.
As heart disease remains a significant threat to women, it’s essential that we pay closer attention to these warning signs and work to improve medical care and treatment options for women everywhere.
Recognizing these symptoms early could save lives.
