Heart disease is sometimes thought of as a man’s health problem. But heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
Heart disease can affect women at many stages of life, including young adulthood, pregnancy, menopause and later adulthood. Risk factors, symptoms and warning signs may look different in women than they do in men. Knowing what to watch for can help you take steps to protect your heart health and get care when you need it.
At Banner Health, women’s heart care is designed to support your needs at every stage of life, from young adulthood and pregnancy to menopause and beyond.
Heart disease affects millions of women across the U.S. It can develop at any age and may begin long before symptoms appear.
Despite its impact, many women do not realize heart disease is their greatest health risk. This can delay prevention, testing and treatment.
Talking with your health care provider about your personal risk can help you understand your heart health and take action early.
Heart disease is a term for several conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Some of the most common types in women include:
Your provider can help identify which type of heart condition may be causing your symptoms and what care may be needed.
Some heart disease risk factors affect everyone, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and family history. But certain factors can affect women differently or raise risk during specific stages of life.
Risk factors that are especially important for women include:
After menopause, lower estrogen levels can affect blood vessels, cholesterol and how the body responds to inflammation and stress. This can increase the risk of heart disease.
Pregnancy places extra demand on the heart and blood vessels. Conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy can raise the risk of heart disease later in life.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease in everyone, but it can raise the risk even more in women.
High blood pressure is common in women and often has no symptoms. Regular screening is important because untreated high blood pressure can damage the heart and blood vessels over time.
Tobacco and nicotine use can damage blood vessels and raise the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Emotional stress, anxiety and depression can affect sleep, blood pressure, activity levels and other habits that support heart health. These factors may have a greater impact on heart disease risk in women.
Some chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments, including treatments for breast cancer and other cancers, can affect heart health.
If any of these risk factors are part of your health history, talk with your provider or a heart specialist about your personal risk.
Heart disease risk is not the same at every age. Hormones, pregnancy, stress, lifestyle, family history and aging can all play a role.
Understanding how risk changes over time can help you know when to ask questions, get screened and make heart-healthy changes.
Heart disease can begin developing earlier than many people realize. During the teen and young adult years, risk is often shaped by family history, health conditions and daily habits.
Factors to be aware of include:
Even without symptoms, healthy habits and regular preventive care can support long-term heart health.
Pregnancy affects the heart and blood vessels. Some pregnancy-related conditions are linked to a higher risk of heart disease later in life.
These include:
If you had any of these conditions, tell your primary care provider, OB-GYN or heart specialist. You may need earlier or more frequent heart health screening.
Heart disease risk often rises during midlife, even before menopause. This may be due to hormone changes, weight changes, higher cholesterol, rising blood pressure or long-term stress.
During this stage, symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook. Talk with your provider if you notice changes such as unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, palpitations or lower exercise tolerance.
After menopause, heart disease risk increases. Lower estrogen levels may affect blood vessels, cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation.
Other factors that may become more common after menopause include:
Routine heart screening and ongoing care are especially important during and after menopause.
Women’s heart disease risk can change across the lifespan. A one-size-fits-all approach may miss important risk factors tied to pregnancy history, hormones, menopause, stress and aging.
Age-aware heart care helps your provider look at your full health story and recommend prevention, testing or treatment based on your needs.
Women may have heart attack symptoms that are different from the classic chest pain many people expect. Symptoms may be sudden or subtle.
Heart attack symptoms in women may include:
If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Fast treatment can save your life.
Learn more about heart attack symptoms and prevention.
You cannot control every heart disease risk factor, but many risks can be managed with regular care and healthy habits.
Ways to support your heart health include:
Your provider can help you create a prevention plan based on your age, health history and risk factors.
You do not need to wait for an emergency to ask about your heart health. Talk with your provider or a heart specialist if you:
Your provider can help decide whether you need heart testing, lifestyle support, medication or specialty care.
Heart disease diagnosis usually starts with a conversation about your symptoms, medical history, family history and risk factors. Your provider may also check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and other heart health numbers.
Depending on your symptoms, testing may include:
Because symptoms in women can be subtle or different from what people expect, it is important to share any changes in how you feel, even if they seem minor.
At Banner Health, women’s heart care is designed around how heart disease affects women in real life.
Our approach may include:
Your care team can help you understand your risk, manage symptoms and build a plan to protect your heart health over time.
Banner Health provides coordinated heart care for women at every stage of life. Our heart specialists understand that symptoms, risks and treatment needs may differ for women.
Care may include:
Heart disease can affect women at many stages of life, but understanding your risk can help you take steps to protect your health. Regular screenings, healthy habits and timely care can make a difference.
Make an appointment with a Banner Health heart specialist to learn more about your heart disease risk and next steps.
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