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Recent statistics show that 46% or 116.4 million US adults are estimated to have heart disease according to the American Heart Association. It is still the leading cause of death for both men and women. 

In 2017, heart disease was the leading cause of death in women but only 56% of women recognized it to be. Some studies even suggest that women are more prone to suffer fatality due to a heart attack than men. It is because heart attack symptoms such as, gradual pain of the jaw, or back and neck discomfort are more likely or most often overlooked by women. These symptoms are often mistaken for indigestion or attributed to other causes which would delay supporting treatment for heart disease. 

Here are other reasons why heart attack is more fatal in women:

1. Diagnostics–another issue is that diagnostics are said to be geared towards men. Biomarkers are often collected mainly from men that are used in diagnostic testing. For example, this means that some women when tested do not reach the diagnostics threshold as far as troponin levels are concerned. When the male threshold is used, one-fifth of heart attack in women are usually missed. 
2. Angiography, which is an examination by contrast imaging of blood or lymph vessels, also has a deficiency in detecting women with ischemic heart disease because many women suffering from such disease don’t have completely blocked coronary arteries. 
3. There is a lack of definitive data on different treatment based on gender. Collected data that are being used for treatment guidelines mostly come from males. While the data may also benefit women, experts suggest more women be included in clinical trials for more definitive treatment. 
4. Post-heart-attack therapies are less likely recommended in women, which can greatly reduce mortality after suffering from a heart attack. 

As we can see, some of the women’s heart fatalities may not only be from the heart disease itself but from conventional methods that prove ineffective in defining treatment methods, detection, or real heart-related issues and the aftercare for women who suffered a heart attack. 

We have written on this topic before, and it is a very important one.

Other than that, women heart attack risk can be reduced generally by: 

1. Always monitoring blood pressure and pulse just to have a fair knowledge of how the heart is doing. 
2. Consulting your doctor and health providers or health coach about activities and dietary necessities. 
3. Limit or stop alcohol and smoking, obviously because they are the main contributors to different forms of heart disease. 
4. Find healthy ways to manage stress–beneficial rest, proper sleep, happy and healthy activities, are all a big help in reducing the risk of heart attack and also in maintaining a healthy heart. 

It is always important to be proactive in keeping a healthy lifestyle not only to prevent heart disease but to also keep our body healthy in general. 

Women should know how to spot heart attack symptoms, including those that are atypical in men, as well as when to seek early assistance from health care providers in detecting possible causes of heart diseases. Plus, try to select a healthcare provider that will really take you seriously.

When it comes to taking care of our general well being, it should always be a combination of personal self-care and professional care. Upgrade your membership now, to receive valuable suggestions such as this on a regular basis (Lite Members), or to gain access to group or personal coaching and risk calculators for heart disease and stroke, as well as get our included lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and HgbA1c (Plus or Premium Members) and track your results over time. Upgrade NOW.