Eight Facts You Need to Know About Women and Heart Disease

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the US. Living with diabetes increases your risk of heart disease.

The symptoms of heart disease can bedifferent in women than in men, and February is the perfect time to shed light on the signs women need to look out for. 

Continue reading to find out more about the connection between women and heart disease, and how to decrease your risk.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women

You might think breast cancer is the leading cause of death of women. However, it’s actually heart disease. More than 60 million women in the US have some form of the disease, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmia or heart failure.

Actionable takeaway: Heart disease can strike at any age. If you’re not already familiar with your family’s health history, find out if anyone has a history of heart disease. Genetics can be a risk factor for developing this condition. Keep an eye on your overall health even when you’re young to avoid heart concerns in the future.

Women’s heart attack symptoms can look different

Some women show no symptoms when having a heart attack. For those who do have symptoms, it’s common to have different ones from men. Common signs in women may include neck, jaw or throat pain, nausea, vomiting and excessive tiredness.

Actionable takeaway: Trust your gut. If something feels off, get medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you feel embarrassed and like you might be “overreacting,” it’s still better to be safe than sorry. 

Chronic stress hits women’s hearts harder

Women are more likely to be stressed because of factors like caregiving, hardship during childhood and socioeconomic disadvantages. Stress could affect women more severely than men because of the different stress responses between genders.

Actionable takeaway: Take steps to decrease stress where you can, like moving your body or prioritizing sleep. It’s not a luxury—research shows that addressing stress could be a key strategy in reducing the risk of developing heart disease in women.

Hormones play a big role in heart risk

During menopause, estrogen levels drop. Since estrogen protects against heart disease, the risk of developing it tends to increase for most women after menopause.

Actionable takeaway: Talk to your healthcare provider (HCP) about your risk of developing heart disease during menopause and whether hormone replacement therapy is something you should consider. And make sure they monitor your overall health during your reproductive years as well.

Pregnancy complications can be early warning signs

Certain health conditions and events during pregnancy are associated with higher risk of having heart disease in the future, like gestational diabetes and preterm delivery.

Actionable takeaway: Make sure that all your healthcare providers (HCPs) know your pregnancy history to understand any related risks for developing heart disease.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are associated with heart disease

High blood sugar levels over a long period of time can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart. Diabetes also makes it more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides, and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Actionable takeaway: Have blood lipids and blood pressure checked regularly and keep your blood sugar in range as much as possible. 

Women are underdiagnosed and undertreated

Risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure and cholesterol are often not treated as soon or as appropriately as they are in men. It’s also common for concerns and symptoms to be dismissed. 

Actionable takeaway: Advocate for yourself. Ask your HCP direct questions and if they recommend any tests to look into symptoms. 

Prevention works—and it’s never too late

Good news: You can decrease your risk of heart disease by practicing healthy habits, like exercising for 150 minutes per week, eating heart-healthy foods and limiting alcohol intake.

Actionable takeaway: Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar) and reassess them regularly.

The bottom line: stay informed

Just because being a woman and having diabetes increase your risk of heart disease, doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to have it. The key is being informed about risk factors, getting regular medical care and taking steps to decrease your risk.