By Alexandra Lopez Petalas, Year 13
When most people think of heart disease, they think of 65+ year old men. However, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women around the world. Raising awareness about this fact is essential because early prevention can save lives.
When the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood get blocked or damaged, heart disease develops. This process is universal. What is not universal though, is the symptoms that women experience compared to men. From fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath, women’s symptoms can easily be mistaken for stress or indigestion, delaying critical treatment. These subtler signs differ from men’s: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chest pain. Studies show that women under the age of 55 who experience a heart attack are more likely to die than men of the same age, mostly because their symptoms are too frequently misdiagnosed.
Another difference is that women develop heart disease later in life than men do. This difference can be attributed to the role that hormones play in women’s heart health. For example, estrogen has an effect of keeping blood vessels flexible, improving blood flow. These positive and beneficial effects mean that premenopausal women generally have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than men of the same age. However, perimenopausal women lose these benefits, estrogen levels decline, increasing their risk of heart disease and catching up with men as they age.
Another factor that plays an important role in prevention is lifestyle factors and mental health. Chronic stress and anxiety all increase the risk of heart disease. Statistically, women are more likely to experience some stress-related conditions than men.
Unfortunately, gender biases in healthcare worsen this issue. Globally, women with heart systems receive fewer diagnostic tests, undergo fewer procedures and treatments than men. This underdiagnosis can have life threatening consequences. It highlights the need for both patients and healthcare providers to advocate for informed care. This doesn’t only impact women individually though, heart disease in women is an economic challenge. Although treating heart disease is expensive, what’s even more costly is managing advanced cases due to delayed diagnoses. Women, and men, with delayed diagnoses require more intensive and expensive treatment. Additionally, heart disease can reduce productivity, as women miss work or even retire early, which has ripple effects on families, the workplace and the economy.
Prevention starts young. Encouraging teenagers and young adults to understand the importance of blood pressure and heart-healthy habits have lifelong benefits. The simple changes can make a huge difference. Technology and research are also making a difference. Increasing research in wearable devices that track heart rate and blood pressure to women’s standards, not the default male’s, work to help women.
But heart disease doesn’t have to be a silent killer for women. By recognizing the unique signs on women, prioritizing prevention and fighting for equality in healthcare, women can take control of their heart health.
