Heart Disease vs. Heart Attacks: Differences in Men and Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups. Heart diseases can include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems or arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, disease of the heart muscle and heart infection.

One person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. In 2022, 702,880 people died from heart disease. That's the equivalent of one in every five deaths.

Heart attacks are also a leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women. In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. That’s approximately 805,000 Americans a year.

Your heart is a muscle that needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart is reduced or cut off. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries. If blood flow is reduced or stopped for too long, the heart begins to die.

About 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent, meaning the damage is done, but the person is not aware of it.

Comparing the Male and Female Heart

Men and women have differences in heart and blood vessel size, anatomy and physiology compared to men, women have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels.Men and women experience cholesterol buildup in different areas.

Heart Disease Symptoms in Men and Women

Women are more likely to die from heart disease than men, partly because their symptoms are often misdiagnosed. Understanding the male and female heart, the warning signs of heart disease and its effect and the distinction between heart attacks and heart disease is crucial for saving lives.

Risk Factors and Outcomes

Women are more likely to die from heart disease than men, with nearly 400,000 women dying from heart disease each year in the U.S.

• Women have unique risk factors for heart disease, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary disease (PCOS), gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Women's risk of developing heart disease increases after menopause, with estrogen levels dropping and traditional risk factors becoming more prominent.
• Women can develop heart disease at any age, but their risk increases after menopause, usually by age 55.
• Women are less likely to receive a diagnosis of heart disease or have heart-related tests when presenting with symptoms compared to men.
• Women tend to have a higher mortality rate after a heart attack than men, partly due to untreated risk factors and inadequate treatment.

How Men and Women Experience a Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up inside the walls of arteries and damages the major blood vessels.

Men typically develop this plaque buildup in the largest arteries that supply blood to the heart. Where as women are more likely to develop this buildup in the heart's smallest blood vessels, the microvasculature.

Warning Signs: How does a heart attack feel?

A heart attack does not always look or feel the same in women compared to men. Men typically present to health care providers with chest pain. While chest pain is the most common symptom for both men and women, there are notable differences in how heart attacks present:

• Men: Typically experience chest pain, pressure, or tightness.
• Women: May have additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Women are also more likely to ignore their symptoms.

Women may also experience chest pressure (it's still the leading complaint), but they are more likely than men to also report:

• Nausea.
• Sweating.
• Vomiting.
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back.

Women are more likely than men to suffer from heart diseases that mimic a heart attack. For instance, women are more likely to experience:

• A coronary spasm: A blood vessel clamps down and mimics a heart attack.
• A coronary dissection: The wall of a blood vessel tears.
• Broken heart syndrome: This is a chemical heart attack where enzymes in the blood and changes in the heart muscles resemble a heart attack, but there are no blocked arteries like you see in coronary artery disease.

When To Go to the Emergency Room

No matter your gender or age, pain in the left or middle of your heart can indicate a heart attack. Monitor your symptoms and go to the emergency room immediately if:

• You feel pressure, fullness, pain, or squeezing in your chest.
• You feel faint or lightheaded.
• You experience discomfort in the back, neck or jaw.
• You feel pain in your shoulders or arms.
• You feel short of breath.
• You are nauseated.

Lowering the Risk of Heart Disease

Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, being overweight or obese, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use.

Heart disease is avoidable, even if you have a family history. Lifestyle changes, like eating healthy foods, staying active and managing stress, can significantly prevent cardiovascular disease or keep it from worsening. Consult your doctor to evaluate and begin a wellness plan for a healthier lifestyle.

Always seek emergency medical care for chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting. In the event of a heart attack, call 9-1-1.

Find the Right Care for You at ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides patients with quality care and services. Staff are ER-trained to determine patient conditions, and patients only pay for the level of service they receive - either ER or urgent care. The emergency department is open 24/7 and the urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. You don't need an appointment. All walk-ins are welcome.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, Ohio 43537.