Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsRisksDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Risks
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Heart diseaseis the leading cause of death in women in the United States.Women experience heart disease differently than men. Understanding these differences, including the subtle warning signs, can help women to access healthcare resources quickly. Reducing risk factors and focusing on prevention can also help improve women’s heart health.
This article covers the causes and symptoms of heart disease in women. It also discusses how women’s heart disease is treated and how it can be prevented.
Verywell / Zoe Hansen
What Causes Heart Disease in Women?
As blood flow becomes more restricted, the heart lacks oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. This condition is called ischemia, and the heart becomes less effective.Ischemiacauses some of the symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain, or angina.
What Causes Chest Pain?
What Are the First Signs of Heart Disease in Women?
Women typically have symptoms of heart disease about 10 years later than men.For men, chest pain is a common symptom. In women, symptoms of a heart attack are more subtle and can include:
Heart disease may not be as obvious as a heart attack. It may present with these symptoms:
Heart Disease Doctor Discussion GuideDownload PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Women
Certain factors can increase a woman’s risk of developing heart disease, including:
Diagnosing Heart Disease in Women
Your doctor will take a thorough history and perform a physical exam to begin the diagnostic process. The doctor will discuss your risk factors and symptoms.
Tests that will be conducted to diagnose cardiovascular disease include:
Can You Become Gluten-Intolerant Later in Life?
How to Manage Heart Disease
Eating a nutrient-rich diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol combined with an active lifestyle is important in managing heart disease.For some women, there may be additional considerations, such as:
Preventing Heart Disease in Women
Certain risk factors, such as family history or pre-existing heart conditions, cannot be changed. However, some can be modified to reduce the risk of heart disease, including:
Summary
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. The symptoms of heart disease may present differently in women than in men. For example, signs are more subtle in women.
Certain factors may increase your risk of having heart disease, including older age, family history of heart disease, menopause, and other chronic conditions like high blood pressure. Besides medical treatment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and managing other health conditions you have can go a long way toward lowering your heart disease risk.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, heart disease affects both younger and older women. Heart disease is the number one killer among women ages 25 years and older.Heart disease accounted for one out of every five female deaths in 2017 and is the number one cause of death in women.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 16 women ages 20 years or older have heart disease.In 2017, almost 300,000 women died from cardiovascular disease.Women are less likely than men to have the typical symptoms of heart disease, such as crushing chest pain, sudden-onset extreme sweating with or without exertion, and difficulty breathing. They tend to have more subtle symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and discomfort in the back, arms, neck, or jaw without any chest pain. Due to the different and milder symptoms in women, physicians often overlook heart disease as a diagnosis for women.
Yes, heart disease affects both younger and older women. Heart disease is the number one killer among women ages 25 years and older.Heart disease accounted for one out of every five female deaths in 2017 and is the number one cause of death in women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 16 women ages 20 years or older have heart disease.In 2017, almost 300,000 women died from cardiovascular disease.
Women are less likely than men to have the typical symptoms of heart disease, such as crushing chest pain, sudden-onset extreme sweating with or without exertion, and difficulty breathing. They tend to have more subtle symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and discomfort in the back, arms, neck, or jaw without any chest pain. Due to the different and milder symptoms in women, physicians often overlook heart disease as a diagnosis for women.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lower your risk for the number 1 killer of women.Cleveland Clinic.Women and cardiovascular disease.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Women and heart disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About women and heart disease.Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma S.Cardiovascular disease in women: understanding symptoms and risk factors.Eur Cardiol. 2017;12(1):10-13. doi:10.15420/ecr.2016:32:1
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lower your risk for the number 1 killer of women.Cleveland Clinic.Women and cardiovascular disease.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Women and heart disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About women and heart disease.Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma S.Cardiovascular disease in women: understanding symptoms and risk factors.Eur Cardiol. 2017;12(1):10-13. doi:10.15420/ecr.2016:32:1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lower your risk for the number 1 killer of women.Cleveland Clinic.Women and cardiovascular disease.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Women and heart disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About women and heart disease.Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma S.Cardiovascular disease in women: understanding symptoms and risk factors.Eur Cardiol. 2017;12(1):10-13. doi:10.15420/ecr.2016:32:1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lower your risk for the number 1 killer of women.
Cleveland Clinic.Women and cardiovascular disease.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Women and heart disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About women and heart disease.
Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma S.Cardiovascular disease in women: understanding symptoms and risk factors.Eur Cardiol. 2017;12(1):10-13. doi:10.15420/ecr.2016:32:1
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
