FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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WHAT ARE THE HEART DISEASE FEATURES UNIQUE TO WOMEN?
Women usually develop heart disease a decade later than men. Microvascular disease, impacting the heart’s small arteries, is more common in women. Mitral valve prolapse is also more frequent in women. Additionally, women are more prone to conditions like broken heart syndrome, where extreme stress can cause heart muscle failure and palpitations. By modifying risk factors, changing lifestyles, using medical treatments, and considering surgeries, women can decrease heart disease mortality risk and improve symptoms like men. Early prevention, accurate diagnosis, and timely treatment are crucial for better survival rates.
Let’s review the heart disease factors that are unique to women in more detail.
Women’s Heart Health: Unique Factors and Risks
One of the most striking differences you might experience is in the symptoms of heart attacks. While men often report crushing chest pain, you may experience more subtle signs. These can include unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in your jaw, neck, or back. Don’t dismiss these symptoms as stress or anxiety; they could be signs of a serious heart condition. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek immediate care from our Atlanta heart specialists.
Your hormones play a significant role in your heart health throughout your life. Before menopause, estrogen offers some protection against heart disease. However, after menopause, your risk increases significantly. This is why it’s especially important to monitor your heart health as you age. Our Atlanta cardiologists can help you navigate these hormonal changes and their impact on your heart.
Pregnancy can also reveal heart issues unique to women. Conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy can increase your risk of heart disease later in life. If you’ve experienced these conditions, it’s important to inform our Atlanta heart doctors, as they’ll want to monitor your heart health more closely.
Stress and depression affect women’s hearts differently than men’s. You may be more likely to experience stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken heart syndrome.” This condition can cause chest pain and shortness of breath, mimicking a heart attack. Our empathetic team of Atlanta cardiologists understands these unique stressors and can help you manage their impact on your heart health.
As a woman, you may also metabolize certain heart medications differently than men. This means that standard doses might not be as effective for you or could cause different side effects. Our Atlanta cardiologists understand these differences and can tailor your treatment plan accordingly.
Certain heart conditions, such as coronary microvascular disease, are more common in women. This condition affects the tiny arteries in the heart and can be challenging to diagnose with standard tests. Our Atlanta heart specialists are equipped with advanced diagnostic tools to detect these less common but equally serious heart conditions.
Trust your heart health to CVG’s twenty board-certified cardiologists. Equipped with leading-edge diagnostic tools, a wealth of experience, and compassion, our cardiac team provides the highest level of personalized care.
You can review our cardiologists’ pages and explore their exceptional credentials and dedication to providing quality care. You can trust that our doctors genuinely care about you and will do everything they can to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.
To learn more, please call (770) 962-0399 or 678-582-8586. You may also request an appointment online. If you have an emergency, don’t contact us online; please call 911.