Gender disparities in heart attack care also may contribute to worse outcomes for women.
“Gender"is a term to describe the gender a person identifies with.
Other conditions that increase heart disease risk likerheumatoid arthritisare more common in women.
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Studies have also suggested that gender and gender roles may have an effect on risk of heart disease.
Overall, women also have heart attacks later in life compared to men.
Hormones may play a role, and historicallyestrogenhas been thought to prevent plaque buildup in the arteries.
However, replacing estrogen with supplemental hormones after menopause doesn’t lower the risk.
Typically people describe this as pressure or a squeezing sensation in the center or left side of the chest.
This is often accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath.
Cardiac prodromal symptomswarning signs of a heart attackare more common in women than men.
Other heart attack symptoms that can happen with or without chest pain also should not be ignored.
How Do Women Typically Feel Before a Heart Attack?
Some people experience chest pain that comes and goes in the time leading up to a heart attack.
They may notice the pain during exertion like exercise, but it goes away with rest.
This throw in of pain is calledangina.
It’s usually related to blockages in the coronary arteries that prevent blood flow leading the heart.
Silent Heart Attacks in Women
Not every heart attack causes obvious symptoms.
Summary
Heart attacks are the number one killer for both men and women.
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