Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of death in Qatar and the number one cause of death globally. While both men and women share many of the symptoms of a heart attack, a woman’s experience can be very different and women are more often misdiagnosed.
In addition to chest, jaw, and back discomfort, women may also experience anxiety, sleep disturbances, stress, fatigue, and body aches. They may also describe the sensation felt during heart attack as heaviness or pressure, compared to men who often complain of chest pain.
Research attributes these differences to a number of factors, including age. Physiological differences are also a factor, with women being less likely than men to seek help quickly.
Dr Nidal Ahmad Asaad, Chairman of Cardiology at the HMC Heart Hospital said that each year, heart disease kills more women than men.
Heart attacks are also thought to be more deadly in women because their hearts are affected by pregnancy, menopause, and hormonal changes, with a large percentage of young women who have premature acute heart attacks having a history of pregnancy disorders, such as gestational diabetes or hypertension.
Women with known or suspected heart disease, require medical care, but they also require a more holistic approach that includes psychological and psychosocial support, and more information to make the lifestyle changes that will enhance their heart health.’
Increased awareness can help control the key risk factors and prevent heart disease, according to Dr Asaad. By encouraging a few simple lifestyle changes these trends can still be reversed.
Risk factors for heart disease common to both men and women include high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Risk factors specific to women include gestational diabetes, pre-term delivery, hypertension in pregnancy, and breast cancer treatments. Having an auto-immune disorder also increases one’s risk of heart disease.
Visit the HMC page for more information about heart health.
