Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women: An Overview
Many people believe that women do not get
heart disease. However, the fact is that one in three American women dies of
heart disease, and more women die from heart disease and
stroke than from all cancers combined.
It is true that women develop heart disease later than men. It is thought that female hormones help protect women from heart disease prior to
menopause. After menopause, women have heart disease as often as men do. It is also true that
heart disease symptoms in women can be different from symptoms seen in men.
Just like in men, heart disease symptoms do not always occur, especially in women with early heart disease.
Heart disease symptoms will appear when the coronary arteries have been sufficiently clogged to cause a reduction in blood to the heart. At this point, a woman may experience one or several symptoms.
Common heart disease symptoms in women may include:
- Chest pain or discomfort that may travel to the arm or jaw
- A burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen
- Shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air)
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Faster heartbeats
- Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- Irregular heartbeats
- Feeling very tired.
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