{"id":18251,"date":"2021-02-03T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18251"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:47:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:47:04","slug":"womens-heart-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/womens-heart-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things women should know about heart health"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few years ago, I had a cardiac ablation to fix a heart condition called supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT. And although the outpatient procedure didn\u2019t take too long on its own, it had been a 10-year journey to get to that point. When I first reported my symptoms to my doctor\u2014a sudden, drastic increase in heart rate, lightheadedness, and chest pressure\u2014I was told that I just paid too much attention to my body. Then, I was sent on my way. About a decade, five heart monitors, and three cardiologists later, my SVT was finally diagnosed and fixed. Part of the reason my treatment took so long is because I ignored one of the cardinal rules of women\u2019s heart health: Don\u2019t let your healthcare provider brush you off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for women to really advocate for being evaluated properly or treated properly when they have cardiovascular disease or risk factors because we know women are oftentimes undertreated,\u201d explains <\/span>Kathryn Lindley, MD<\/span>, chair of the American College of Cardiology\u2019s Cardiovascular Disease in Women Council.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What\u2019s a normal heart rate?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

5 things to know about women\u2019s heart health<\/span><\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t end up in the same situation I was in. These five things you should know about heart disease in women will keep you informed for every visit with your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Your risk increases after menopause<\/span><\/h3>\n

Women are generally less likely to have cardiac issues than men\u2014<\/span>until menopause<\/span><\/a>. \u201cCardiovascular risk continues to increase with age over the course of a woman\u2019s life, although that risk tends to increase most sharply around the time of menopause,\u201d Dr. Lindley<\/a> says. \u201cA lot of it is related to hormone changes. Our native sex hormones are likely protective for women and as those sex hormones start to change and wane as we go through menopause, a lot of those cardiovascular risk factors start to increase.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So although you should always be vigilant about your heart as you get older, it\u2019s extra important to get annual checkups after hitting menopause. The average age for a first heart attack is 66 for men, but isn\u2019t until 70 for women.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Pregnancy complications can lead to heart complications<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve had a baby, one of the most important things to know post-pregnancy is that\u00a0 certain complications<\/span> make you more susceptible to heart problems<\/span><\/a> later in life. That extra risk kicks in about 20 or 30 years postpartum, estimates John Osborne<\/a>, MD, Ph.D., director of cardiology at LowT Center\/<\/span>HerKare<\/span><\/a>. If you experienced premature birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or repeat miscarriages, it could impact your cardiovascular health. Endometriosis also raises your risk of coronary artery disease <\/span>up to 400%<\/span><\/a> for women younger than 40.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to know that if you had any of those conditions,\u201d Dr. Lindley says, \u201cyou are at increased risk and you should talk to your doctor about it and be screened a little more carefully and treated a little more aggressively for your risk factors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How to take care of your heart during pregnancy<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Heart attack symptoms in women may be different<\/span><\/h3>\n

The standard symptoms of a heart attack are well-known: chest pressure, radiating pain in your left arm, and shortness of breath. But, Dr. Osborne says, those hallmark indicators typically only occur in a third of women <\/span>experiencing a heart attack<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor women, the more typical symptoms are fatigue or shortness of breath,\u201d he says. \u201cBut the problem is lots of things cause those. The symptoms in women can be less in your face.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Lindley agrees, noting some<\/span> other symptoms for women<\/span><\/a> to look out for are nausea and sweating, in addition to the more standard chest discomfort. Pain in the neck, back, or jaw are also signs of a heart attack in women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Heart problems in women are harder to diagnose<\/span><\/h3>\n

Angiograms are the main way to find narrowings or blockages in heart arteries. However, they are less effective for women. Women\u2019s hearts are smaller, and they tend to develop blockages in smaller arteries that aren\u2019t as easily detected on the scan. Meaning, you could be given an \u201call-clear,\u201d on the test, but still have an issue going on. The <\/span>early signs of a heart blockage<\/a><\/span> include slow or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, and difficulty exercising.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although in some cases there can be no signs of heart problems in women, the symptoms of heart disease in women that require medical attention, <\/span>according to the CDC<\/span><\/a>, include:<\/span><\/p>\n