Expert Insights
Women & Heart Disease – Microvascular Dysfunction
With the growing understanding of women and heart disease comes the awareness that women experience heart attacks/myocardial infarctions differently than men.
Research indicates that in women, imaging and vascular/blood vessel catheter testing shows that the micro vasculature or small arteries of the heart are impacted. Women may also have spasm of an artery or a plaque may rupture so by the time they are in the cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab), the coronary arteries/heart blood vessels look normal.
This micro vascular dysfunction may result in women being confused with their diagnosis – such as being told you’ve had a heart attack but your major heart blood vessels/coronary arteries are ok. It can also result in the need for you to ask questions and seek answers if you are not clear in what has happened.
Questions to ask:
- Did I have a heart attack?
- What type? What vessels are effected?
- What are my treatment options?
- What damage has been done to my heart?
- How will it impact my daily living?
- What mediations can help?
- Can I attend cardiac rehab to assist my recovery?
- What are the next steps?
- When do I need to follow up with my cardiologist?
- When do I follow up with my primary care provider?
- What’s next?
Women need appropriate diagnoses and treatment. Women experience symptoms of a heart attack and chest pain differently than men. Women also tend to experience heart disease later in life than men – on average.
However, use of birth control, smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and other factors may impact your risk. it’s important to see your healthcare provider annually to discuss your risk.
Women need to seek immediate care for symptoms of a heart attack:
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue, weakness
- Chest pain/discomfort/ uneasy feeling/pain in jaw, arm, back, neck, stomach
- Nausea/vomiting/heartburn
- Lightheadedness
- Cold sweats
SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY – call 911
Reference:
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/heart-disease-women
