Public Health Matters

National Wear Red Day: Understanding Women’s Heart Health

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Today is National Wear Red Day, an initiative of the American Heart Association that encourages women to be seen, counted, and heard when it comes to combatting heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths yearly.2  Heart disease affects the heart and blood vessels by restricting blood flow due to plaque build-up in the arteries of the heart. In some cases, blood flow can be obstructed, or a blood clot forms, leading to more serious conditions like heart attack or stroke.1

Who is at Risk?

Women of all ages are at risk for heart disease, so it is important to know and understand your individual risk. The risk for heart disease increases in women at different stages of life, two notable stages are during pregnancy and menopause due to changing levels of estrogen in the body. According to the National Lung, Heart and Blood Institute (NLHBI), lower estrogen levels can increase a woman’s risk for heart disease.4 Additionally, risk increases with age, other health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes), family history, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating, smoking, lack of sleep, and not managing stress.5

What to Watch Out For?

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack can look different in women than they do in men. That is not to say that women do not experience some of the traditional symptoms experienced by men (crushing chest pain and tightness), but to make sure that women are aware that symptoms may show up in other forms also. Some that are most notably experienced during a heart attack are:5

  • Experiencing chest pain while doing routine daily activities rather than during periods of high exertion (e.g., exercise)
  • Pain in the chest, neck, or throat; the pain may also be more painful and last longer
  • Chest pain (angina) triggered by mental stress
  • Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Tiredness, lack of energy

As stated by the AHA, signs of stroke in women can be subtle.3 Those seen in women include disorientation, fatigue, and nausea or vomiting. These are in addition to the common stroke symptoms that are seen in both women and men:

  • Numbness or weakness in face, arm or leg
  • Trouble speaking, understanding speech
  • Vision problems
  • Trouble walking, lack of coordination, balance
  • Severe headache without a known cause

What Can You Do?

It is important to know the symptoms of heart disease and to seek medical care promptly if you experience those indicative of a serious condition like heart attack or stroke. Prompt care can help prevent complications and long-term damage. It may be necessary for women to ask their health care providers about diagnostic tests and effective treatment options for women. It is also notable that women can experience delays when it comes to receiving a diagnosis and treatment. So, if you experience any of the signs and symptoms seek prompt care because there are effective treatments for heart disease. The best medicine, however, is prevention. Lifestyle changes (e.g., physical activity, heart healthy diet, improving sleep quality, reducing stress, stopping smoking) are effective tools that improve your heart’s health and longevity. Don’t delay, make a move and get started today.

For more helpful information on heart health, check out these resources.

Resources

References

  1. American Heart Association. The Facts about Women and Heart Disease. http://www.goredforwomen.org. Published 2019. https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts
  2. American Heart Association. Symptoms of a Stroke in Women. http://www.heart.org. Published January 31, 2024. https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/signs-and-symptoms-in-women/symptoms-of-a-stroke
  3. American Heart Association. What is Cardiovascular Disease? http://www.heart.org. Published January 10, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease
  4. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Coronary Heart Disease – Women and Heart Disease | NHLBI, NIH. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Published December 20, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease/women
  5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Listen to Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease | NHLBI, NIH. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/heart-truth/listen-to-your-heart

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