Cardiovascular disease can be deadly for anyone. However, women face unique risks, largely due to differences in anatomy and hormones. They are more likely to have other heart attack symptoms and have a higher chance of developing symptoms from heart failure.
Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States and can affect them at any age.
There are three types of heart disease. They include:
- Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, caused by plaque in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease because of hormonal changes.
- Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. A common example is atrial fibrillation.
- Heart failure happens when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to support other organs in the body. This condition is serious, but it doesn’t mean the heart has stopped beating.
Although some women have no symptoms, other women may experience:
- Angina is usually felt as a dull or heavy chest discomfort or ache
- Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
- Pain in the upper abdomen or back
These symptoms may happen when you are resting or active. Women may also have other symptoms, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tiredness that won’t go away of feels excessive
In some women, the first signs and symptoms if heart disease can be:
- A heart attack
- Palpitations
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the artery and the treatment.
The warning signs of a heart attack include:
- Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or doesn’t go away and returns
- Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach
- Shortness of breath
Other signs can include:
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Unusual tiredness
- Lightheadedness
Medical treatment for a heart attack is based on the type of heart attack and where the blockage in the coronary artery is.
A complete blockage of the artery of the heart is a STEMI or ST-elevation myocardial infarction. A partial blockage is an NSTEMI heart attack or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The different ways to restore blood flow to the affected heart muscle during a heart attack include:
- Clot-dissolving medications
- Balloon angioplasty and stenting
- Surgery
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 right away. If you are experiencing heart attack symptoms, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-1700.
FollowAll content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.