John Macoviak MD, Retired Heart Surgeon, on Women's Heart Disease

Heart disease is many times thought of as a problem mostly concerning men, however, it is the most common cause of death for both men and women alike in the United States. All men and women are susceptible to heart disease, yet each gender does not always experience the same symptoms. Understanding the symptoms and risks that are specific to women though, will allow them to make the appropriate decisions to start reducing their risk of heart disease.

Symptoms
Heart attacks across the board typically create symptoms of chest pain or discomfort. In women though, this is not always the most prominent or severe symptom experienced. Sometimes, women don’t experience chest pain at all during a heart attack. More often than not, especially more often than men, women will experience symptoms that are not at all associated with chest pain. These symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain in one or both arms
• Discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back, or abdomen
• Sweating
• Unusual fatigue, nausea, or vomiting
• Becoming lightheaded or dizzy

Even these symptoms tend to be more subtle than chest pain. Women will most often experience these symptoms when they are resting or asleep. Additionally, since these symptoms are not typically associated with a heart attack, women will go to the emergency room long after heart damage has already occurred.
If you think that you are having a heart attack, immediately call for emergency medical assistance.

Risk Factors
The more common risk factors associated with heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol all play a part in contributing to heart disease in women. There are other risk factors, however, that sometimes play an even more significant role. These risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Inactivity
• Mental stress
• Depression
• Pregnancy complication
• Menopause
• Broken heart syndrome
• Chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatment
• Inflammatory diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

All women, regardless of age, are susceptible to heart disease. Women under that age of 65 should pay close attention to these risk factors, especially women from a family with a history of heart disease.

Risk Reduction
Several lifestyle changes can be made to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Some of these include:

• If you smoke, quit
• Regularly exercise
• Eat a healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take prescribed medications correctly
• Manage conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol

John Macoviak, MD is a retired heart transplant surgeon currently residing in California. He was the first heart transplant surgeon to complete a heart transplant in Washington, D.C. and went on to complete nearly 30 more surgeries of the same nature. To learn more about John, visit his website, JohnMacoviakMD.net.