Is Cardiovascular Disease More Deadly in Women?
Despite cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in women – accounting for nearly 35% of female deaths – it remains understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Let’s take a deeper dive into why this may be:
- There has been a historical misconception in the medical profession that cardiovascular disease primarily affects men and this bias has led to an underestimation of the risk of cardiac disease in women. This bias even extends to current cardiovascular research where only 30% of subjects in studies are women.
- Despite the fact that heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, only 43% of women recognize their risk for cardiovascular disease. In fact, a special report from the American Heart Association showed that “women’s awareness that heart disease is their leading cause of death declined markedly in the last decade, from 65% of women being aware in 2009 to 44% being aware in 2019.”
- Studies have shown that women with cardiac disease often have atypical symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal discomfort, nausea, shortness of breath or back pain. These atypical presentations can lead to delays in seeking treatment and in the initiation of appropriate care by medical professionals.
- The risk of cardiovascular disease increases in women after menopause. This is partly because the levels of cardioprotective estrogens decrease significantly after menopause. Estrogens have been shown to have a protective effect on the heart, and their reduction is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.
- Most women do not realize that if they suffered from gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and/or high blood pressure during a pregnancy, they are at a much higher risk of developing heart disease later in life.
The physicians at Synergy Longevity Centers encourage all women to be proactive with their health and consider obtaining a comprehensive Heart-Health Assessment. This assessment dives deep into cardiac biomarkers, non-invasive, and invasive tests to get a full picture of your current and future heart-health.
Interested in learning more? Click here to contact us and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our physicians.
Do it for yourself. Do it for your family.
