Why Heart Disease in Women Is Often Missed – and What To Watch Our For

Unlike the dramatic, Hollywood-style chest pain we see in the movies, women's heart diseases often feature subtle, "silent" symptoms that can easily be dismissed as stress or anxiety.

Dr. Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, a Specialist Cardiologist in the Department of Cardiology at Medcare Hospital, is here to help us understand why we need to pay closer attention to our heart health, in simple terms.

Heart disease is not just a “man’s problem.”

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, responsible for about 30% of all female deaths each year – more than all cancers combined.

Yet awareness remains low. Surveys show that less than half of women recognise heart disease as their biggest health risk, even though Cardiovascular Disease kills 1 in 3 women annually.

Atypical Symptoms in Women

Women often experience heart disease differently than men. While chest pain is still the most common symptom, women are more likely to have non-classic or subtle signs, which leads to missed diagnoses.

Common symptoms in women include:

• Unusual fatigue or weakness (often days or weeks before an event)

• Shortness of breath

• Pain/discomfort in neck, jaw, back, shoulders, or upper abdomen

• Nausea, sweating, light-headedness

• Symptoms at rest or during sleep rather than only with exertion

These patterns often lead to symptoms being misinterpreted as anxiety, indigestion, or stress – delaying urgent care.

Heart-Health Risk Factors Unique to Women

Women face some cardiovascular risks that are less commonly recognized:

• Pregnancy-related conditions

• Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes significantly raise long-term heart risk.

• Hormonal transitions

• Estrogen helps protect blood vessels. After menopause, heart risk rises as estrogen

  falls.

• Autoimmune diseases: Conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis increase CVD

  risk, particularly in women.

• High blood pressure remains the number one modifiable risk factor in women and is prevalent

  globally.

Evidence-Based Lifestyles That Protect Women’s Hearts

Campaigns like the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women emphasise that most heart events are preventable with lifestyle changes. Daily habits that make the biggest

difference:

• Move more – aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly

• Avoid long periods of sitting

• Eat a nutrient-rich diet with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats

• Prioritise sleep and stress management

These behaviours improve blood pressure, metabolic health, and resilience to chronic inflammation – a key driver of heart disease in women.

At What Age Should Women Start Thinking About Heart Health?

Evidence shows that the process of heart disease begins long before it becomes life-threatening. Recommended milestones:

• 20s: Establish baseline readings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight

• 30s–50s: Risk factors often accelerate – especially after pregnancy or during

• menopause

• 50s and beyond: Risk continues to rise; regular check-ups become crucial.

  
  

Awareness and early action can significantly reduce the burden of heart disease later in life.

A Final Reality Check

Despite being the number one killer of women globally, awareness has stagnated or even declined in some populations over the last decade, especially among younger women and minority groups. Campaigns like Go Red for Women and The Heart Truth exist because education saves lives – helping women recognise risk, recognise symptoms, and act early.

If you have any concerns or just want a health check up, use this as your sign to make an appointment with your GP.

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Dr Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan is a Specialist Cardiologist in the Department of Cardiology at the Medcare Hospital in Sharjah.