Women and Heart Disease

February is Love Your Heart Month. Friday, February 6th^, is Wear Red for Women and Heart Disease Day! Over 60 million women in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. It is the Number 1 killer of women in the United States.

Heart disease affects women of all ages. Addressing heart health at every life stage can improve the quality of life and overall health. In the United States, Black women have a higher prevalence and morbidity from cardiovascular disease than non-Black women do. Women have a lower risk of heart disease until after menopause due to estrogen protection; however, Women in their 30s can have serious blockages. Especially if they have a history of diabetes, obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, smoking, increased stress, or family history.

According to the American Heart Association, one of the biggest discoveries in the past 10 years is the link between pregnancy complications and heart disease and stroke risk. Now we know that if a woman has gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia during pregnancy, that they are a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

Typically, in men, symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort, arm, neck, jaw, or back pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness. Women may or may not have these symptoms. They may experience tiredness that won’t go away or feels excessive, anxiety, dizziness, palpitations. Many women attribute these symptoms to less life-threatening conditions such as acid reflux, the flu, or normal aging.

Lifestyle factors that decrease risk include:

Don’t smoke. Just one year after you quit, you will cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%

Eat a heart-healthy diet, such as the DASH or Mediterranean diet, that includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and nuts and seeds. Decrease sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day (1 teaspoon). Fresh (not canned) fruits and vegetables are low in sodium and aren’t counted in the 2,300 mg.

Engage in moderate intensity exercise for 30 minutes a day.

Carve out time every day to decrease your stress. Get 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep.

Talk with your provider about your risk of cardiovascular disease and how you can lower it.

The risk of heart disease for women increases significantly after age 40, often rising after menopause due to the loss of estrogen’s protective effects.

Older women are more likely to suffer from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), or diastolic heart failure.