Heart Disease Symptoms May Differ by Gender
Information Resources
By Evelyn Cunico, MA, MS/LIS
Posted November 25, 2019
Background
Heart Disease is the most common cause of death for both women and men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although risk factors for heart disease are similar for women and men, symptoms of heart disease sometimes differ between women and men.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
The most common heart attack symptom in both women and men is severe chest pain. However, women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, according to Mayo Clinic staff.
Women should pay particular attention to the following symptoms.
- Jaw, neck, shoulder, or upper back pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in one or both arms
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Unusual fatigue
Mayo Clinic staff caution that if you have symptoms of a heart attack, or think that you may be having a heart attack, you should call for emergency medical help immediately. Do not drive yourself to the emergency room unless you have no other options.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Risk factors are medical conditions or life style choices that can put you at higher risk for heart disease. For both women and men, the following factors increase the risk for heart disease.
- Diabetes
- Excessive alcohol use
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Mental stress
- Obesity and overweight
- Physical activity
- Smoking
- Unhealthy diet
How to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Manage your stress
- Quit smoking
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