By AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS
Are the hearts of women and men really all that different? It turns out, when it comes to how men and women are treated for ischemic heart disease, the answer is yes.
The American Heart Association on Monday released the first statement that pools all aspects of women’s experiences with ischemic heart disease, a condition that affects blood supply to the heart. The scientific statement was published in the AHA’s journal Circulation.
Statement chair Jean McSweeney, Ph.D., R.N., associate dean of research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said the statement combines research on variations in social norms and biological differences between men and women regarding the treatment of heart disease.
“Women’s death rates from heart disease are beginning to decline a little bit, but still at a slower pace than men,” McSweeney said. “There have been small studies conducted and women have been included in some larger studies, but due to limited numbers of women, most data cannot be analyzed by sex or gender.”
This statement, she said, reports the best evidence to date on ischemic heart disease causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in women.
Women aren’t being treated to guidelines, McSweeney said, and although ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, most women still view the disease as one that affects mostly men. Women typically experience ischemic heart disease a decade later in life than men, and women have different symptoms than men, according to the statement.
Because of the uncharacteristic symptoms involved – such as fatigue, nausea and neck or jaw pain – women are often misdiagnosed. And, within one year after a heart attack, a quarter of women 45 years or older will die, compared to 19 percent of men.
“Some clinicians try really hard to make diagnoses, but it’s hard to get the information, because you have to hunt for it,” McSweeney said. “We’re hoping this can be a wonderful guide with a lot of references for them to find answers.”
The statement is useful not only for doctors in making proper diagnoses, but also in educating the public and highlighting the need for more research.
Cardiologist Malissa Wood, M.D., who started the Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, said the statement was important, timely and confirms experiences she has had with female patients and patient studies.
“Women need to think about their symptoms and take them seriously, and nurses and doctors should not discount a patient just because she’s a 35-year-old and otherwise healthy,” Wood said. “There are set differences in our hearts, in our blood vessels and in our brains, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all problem or solution.”
Wood said she hopes the statement will encourage more funding for research that looks at sex differences.
According to the statement, women who smoke have a 25 percent greater risk of ischemic heart disease than male smokers. In addition, women over age 35 who smoke are at high risk for cardiovascular disease associated with oral birth control use.
Women, particularly minority women, are more likely to live in undesirable neighborhoods with limited access to grocery stores and no access to quality health services, characteristics that can affect cardiovascular health. Women with a history of preeclampsia – a dangerous spike in blood pressure that occurs late in pregnancy – or diabetes during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of cardiac events.
Until more women are educated about their risks, “it will remain difficult to convince women to undertake necessary behavior changes” to prevent heart disease, the statement said.
The goal, McSweeney said, is to identify women with risk factors or symptoms very early on, before they have a heart attack or other serious problem.
“We need to move the diagnosis earlier so women can be treated and hopefully prevent disability or death due to heart disease,” she said.
Yes this is very true. I am an Advocate for Go Red For Women. I am also a heart attack survivor. I went to the doctor for one full year complaining of chest pain, shortness of breath and upset stomach. I was 34 years of age and petite. The doctor thought I had anxiety and treated me for that. Not once checking my heart. Then just last year my 6 year old granddaughter had cardiomyopathy. She needed a heart transplant. Her mommy took her to the doctor for shortness of breath and sweating and was told she has Asthma. Not once did they do a chest x-ray. If they had they would had found the enlarged heart. Two females from the same family almost died because women and children aren’t taken seriously or considered heart patients. But we are. So w need the medical field to rise up, learn that and help us.
Wow just wow I did smoke I quit the day I had a heart attack I had toximia 2x and just got diagnosed with graves…..all thing attacking my heart , I had a perfect physical 2 years ago but never had any heart testing done. I believe you are correct in all stated.
I love reading your blog for the go red. i am a 33 year old female thatbhadna heart attack on Demember 8 2012. I had two stents placed. And every since the I keep cheats pains and fell fatigue and these past three years I have been passing out for know reason. I have broken bones black eyes conussions and much more. The doctors can not seem to find out why. I just wish I could live my life like a normal 33 year old should. I am a supporter of the American heart association.
It is frustrated knowing my Mom had undiagnosed dyspnea with respiration rate in 40-50 range now “my spells” of Dyspnea with irregular heartbeat & mild heaviness increasing with age I am now 60. I just had a nuclear cardiac stress test That show when I felt SOB mild chest pressure I was having Trigeminy PVC – unifocal away from the T wave – I received a cup of coffee & was told it would reduce the side effect off the test well 3 coffee & 5 hours later that heaviness went away but for the next 48 hours “my spells” were more frequent and last longer. The cardiologist ‘s nurse called and told me no follow up needed test was normal. So basically deal with it. And I just feel frustrated with being a nurse being treated like it’s all in my head and go away And just had to voice my opinion on being a female a nurse I’m being frustrated
I am 35 years old I have coronary artery disease, I Haber been to Dr’s for a year and a half telling them something was wrong and they kept over looking almost the signs. My ECG’S and blood work kept coming back normal. Dr’s kept talking about me having acid reflux and that was causing the chest pain. Until finally this past October I went and finally got a cardiologist that would listen to my symptoms and decided top do a heart catholic the next morning. After the cath my cardiologist told me that my family would have found me dead within 24 to 48 hours if I hadn’t gone in! I ended up with 3 stints! All in the 3 main arteries on the heart! Because of my age my cardiologist decided against open-heart,thank God! But it was also because of my age that no one would listen! I feel much better now, and Dr’s need to listen to their patients more and understand that this can happen to anyone at anytime. I’m very healthy otherwise, no health problems, not over weight and I watch what eat, always have. This can be a hereditary illness.add mine is, I don’t have high blood pressure or anything my tryglicerides are our of the park though, with caused the blockages. Be mindful of your symptoms, listen to what your body is saying!
This is so very true, When I was 35 my older brother died of a massive heart attack at age 36 ,my dad had a heart attack at age 54 still alive thank god, my mom had a stroke at 49. I tried for years to get my doc to look at my heart due to family history and was constantly told it was stress. My mom passed in 2004 from heart disease. In 2009 I was feeling tired all the time having tightness across my shoulders and every now and then in my chest.I went to the doc and was told stress again. I finally told him if he did whatever he needed to do to eliminate my heart I would then follow his treatment plan. He did a stress test and referred me to a cardiologist. the cardiologist ,after seeing my stress test results and with my family history he said we needed to do a heart cath. To make a long story short within a week i was having heart bypass surgery. I was 51. From 35 to 51 I was constantly told it was stress and I was to young. /thank god the cardiologist took it serious or I would not be here today I still get hesitation when I go in for chest pain, they feel with the bypass I should be doing good. We do need more education on heart disease for women and in the medical field