Cardiac risks for women

We all know heart disease is the number one killer for men in the United States, but did you also know it’s also the number one killer for women? Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 3 female deaths in the United States. Between 1987 and 2017, heart disease killed more women than men.

So why are women at higher risk? Women often don’t present what are thought to be the “classic” symptoms of heart disease such as sharp chest pain and tightness. Often symptoms for women are vague such as fatigue, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, pain in one or both arms, neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back. And quite often women dismiss symptoms as acid reflux, the flu or normal signs of getting older. Even more concerning: nearly two thirds of women who die from heart disease showed no previous symptoms at all.

 Angiograms don’t always catch signs for coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. This is because their blockages often tend to be in the smaller arteries – a condition known as small vessel heart disease.

 So what’s the good news? The good news is that 80% of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes.

 First, I tell all my patients to know your numbers. Starting in your 30s you should know your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers.

 The main risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, poor diet, and high stress. There’s no getting around it. If you want to be healthier, you need to quit smoking, move more, eat healthy, and manage stress.

 If you are sedentary, start walking for 30 minutes a day. Aim for 5-6 days a week. If that doesn’t sound doable, start slowly and work your way up -- and it’s okay to break your workouts into 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

 When eating meals, half of your plate should be veggies and you need to cut back on processed food, sugary snacks, and alcohol. Limit drinking to two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.

 To manage stress, you have to prioritize taking some time for yourself. Take a few minutes each day to breathe and give your body a nice stretch. While you’re on a walk, try listening to a meditation app. If that doesn’t sound fun to you, schedule time every few days to call a friend and catch up. Even better if you can meet in person over lunch or dinner.

 Healthy lifestyle changes don’t have to be hard. They just have to be ones you’ll stick to. And most importantly, if you feel like your physician isn’t taking your symptoms seriously, insist on further testing and get a second opinion.

Dr. Diana Macian is board certified in Emergency Medicine and has treated a wide range of medical issues, from a bad cough to cardiac arrest and stroke. Before joining WellcomeMD, Dr. Macian worked in the Emergency Department at Naples Community Hospital on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

She attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Science and completed her residency at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. While serving throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict, she developed a passion for veterans’ healthcare issues and providing outstanding medical services to those who have served our country.