Health experts explain why women are at higher risk of getting a heart attack than men

Long known to affect only men heart attacks are now more prevalent among women but often their symptoms are missed leading to delayed treatment as well as creating challenges for timely intervention said health expertsA study presented at the Heart Failure 2023 a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology ESC showed that women are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack than men despite receiving treatment within the same timeframe as their male counterpartsldquoIt is a common misconception that heart disease primarily affects men In reality heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide However the symptoms and presentation of heart disease can vary between genders leading to differences in detection diagnosis and treatmentrdquo Dr Varun Bansal senior consultant cardiology and cardio thoracic surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals told IANSMany studies have suggested that women often experience different symptoms of heart attack when compared to men Men typically exhibit more classic symptoms of a heart attack such as chest pain or discomfort whereas women may experience atypical symptoms or different warning signs These can include shortness of breath fatigue nausea back or jaw pain and dizzinessldquoSince these symptoms are not always associated with heart disease women may delay seeking medical attention leading to a more advanced stage of the disease by the time it is diagnosedrdquo Dr Bansal saidRecognising the unique anatomical and hormonal characteristics of women and men is essential in understanding the varying risks they face when it comes to heart disease and stroke The disparity in symptoms can result in underdiagnosis and delayed treatment creating challenges for timely interventionrdquo added Dr Pradeep Kumar Nayak Senior Consultant Cardiology Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality HospitalAnother study published in the American Heart Associationrsquos journal Circulation showed that women face a 20 per cent increased risk of developing heart failure or dying within five years after their first severe heart attack compared with menIn addition women were more likely than men to be older and have a more complicated medical history at the time of their heart attackDr Bansal noted that women tend to develop heart disease typically after menopause when the protective effects of oestrogen decreaseldquoOestrogen has been shown to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system including promoting healthy blood vessel function and reducing inflammation After menopause women may experience changes in their body and an increase in cardiovascular riskrdquo he explainedThe factors which have added onto the disease burden when compared to men and the past are polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS pregnancyrelated complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia subclinical depression and added stress of work and domestic responsibilitiesldquoTo address these issues it is crucial to raise awareness promote early detection and implement targeted prevention strategies that are specifically tailored to women By empowering women to take control of their heart health we can make a significant impact in reducing the risks they face Dr Nayak saidAlso read Lower cardiovascular disease by eating enough of these 6 foodsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever