Do not rely on the Silence of your heart

Cardiovascular diseases in women can progress much worse than in men. The primary reason for this is that they present with symptoms that differ from what is expected (outside the heart); therefore, they cannot be recognized by patients and their relatives in a timely manner. For example, did you know that "more than half" of women who experience their first heart attack have never had chest pain symptoms before?

Pay Attention to These Symptoms!

• Heart attack symptoms in women differ from those in men. If you experience the following symptoms, do not forget to go to the nearest healthcare facility.
• Back and jaw pain Sudden onset of unexplained fatigue Sudden onset of shortness of breath of unknown cause Pain in the upper abdomen Sweating

A lot has been written and said about the female heart... It is a well-known fact that the female soul is more sensitive and receptive than the male soul. Unfortunately, this also holds true for the female heart. Studies have shown that the female heart and the male heart possess differences, just as their souls do. First of all, the female heart is smaller than the male heart, while the male heart is 1.5 times heavier than the female heart. Women's coronary heart vessels (the vessels that supply blood to the heart itself) are thinner in structure. The layer lining the inner surface of blood vessels, known as the endothelium, has been observed to be more sensitive and prone to spasm (vasoconstriction) in women, playing an important role in the development of most vascular diseases.

Unfortunately, today, heart diseases are the number one cause of death in women. In fact, deaths due to heart disease are approximately 10 times higher than deaths due to breast cancer. In this context, the importance of conducting specific studies aimed at raising awareness about women's health issues, such as diseases specific to women like breast cancer and uterine cancer, also becomes even more significant regarding heart diseases in women. However, drawing attention to the insufficient care in this regard, Medistate Kavacık Hospital Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Through the information he shares exclusively with the valuable female readers of Medistate Yaşam magazine, Yusuf Tavil makes a significant contribution to social awareness…

Vascular Diseases Are the Most Risky Group!

When heart diseases are mentioned, vascular diseases of the heart often come to mind. Because it is often these diseases related to the heart's vessels that are the most common and the most deadly. Due to its serious consequences such as heart attack, sudden death, and heart failure; it is evident that the issue should be given serious attention not only for women but also for the entire public health today.

The Condition Proceeds More Slyly in Women

So, how do cardiovascular diseases differ in women compared to men? There has been increasing awareness on this subject recently, but it is still not sufficient. Because there is a prejudice in our society that "heart disease is a men's disease." However, heart attacks in women are more deadly and have worse outcomes compared to men. More than half of women who experience their first heart attack do not have a history of chest pain. In other words, cardiovascular disease is manifesting in a more insidious way. In men, pressure-like pain in the left chest is often seen in heart attacks, while this symptom may differ in women. In a woman who presents to the hospital with symptoms such as back and jaw pain, sudden onset of unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath, pain in the upper abdomen, and sweating, the diagnosis may be a heart attack. The fact that the symptoms are different from what is expected and can also be seen in other diseases may delay seeking timely medical attention. Due to these differences, women are less likely to be referred to the hospital for further investigation due to suspected cardiovascular disease compared to men.

Why Are Women Disadvantaged Compared to Men?

Cause 1: Obesity

Another difference between women and men regarding heart diseases is that cardiovascular diseases tend to appear approximately 10 years later in women compared to men. The reason for this is not solely menopause. The protective effect of estrogen against heart disease is still being debated, but one well-established fact is that women have higher blood lipid levels, higher rates of obesity, and a higher incidence of diabetes after menopause. Women's lower levels of physical activity compared to men result in exercise having an even weaker protective effect against heart disease in women. A study conducted in our country shows that the obesity rate is around 50 percent in women over the age of 50. This is a fairly high rate.

Cause 2: Hypertension

Another important risk factor is hypertension. The development of hypertension is more likely in women than in men. Excessive weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle can facilitate the onset of hypertension. Women who develop pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy also have an increased risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases in later life.

Cause 3: A history of breast cancer

Breast cancer, which is commonly seen in older women, and the receipt of chemotherapy and radiotherapy during treatment for this disease are risk factors for the development of heart disease. These conditions can lead to weakening of the heart muscle rather than vascular diseases, ultimately resulting in heart failure.

Cause 4: Depression and stress

A heart disease called broken heart syndrome, which can result in loss of function in the heart muscle, especially after physical or severe stress, is also nine times more common in women than in men. Another well-known fact is that depression and stress factors can trigger the development or occurrence of heart diseases. Depression and stress are more commonly seen in women and lead to the accumulation of risk factors, especially at older ages.

If at Least 2 of the Risks Apply...

The issue of risk factors is a situation that must be thoroughly evaluated and precautions taken. Because the occurrence of heart diseases, which are directly proportional to risk factors, becomes easier. The presence of at least two of the risks we mentioned in our article increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 3 to 4 times compared to a woman without any risk factors; while the presence of at least three risks simultaneously increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 9 to 10 times. Women should be more careful about risk factors than men! It should not be forgotten that women's advantageous position regarding cardiovascular diseases between the ages of 40 and 50 unfortunately turns into a disadvantage after the age of 50-60.

Treatment Can Be More Difficult in Women

The fact that women's vascular structure is thinner and different makes diagnosis, intervention, and response to treatment more challenging. For example, atherosclerosis not only obstructs blood flow rapidly within the vessel but can also progress along the vessel wall for a longer period, leading to longer and more slender vascular obstructions compared to men. In the procedure of performing emergency angiography and opening the blocked vessel with a balloon and stent, which has almost become standard in the treatment of heart attacks today, complications (unintended outcomes) are more frequently observed in women. Additionally, the development of heart failure after heart attacks occurs more frequently in women.

Tobacco use is much more dangerous for women!

The negative impact of tobacco product use on cardiovascular diseases is greater in women. For example, this effect is valid even with daily cigarette consumption of 1 to 4 cigarettes.

References:

• World Health Organization. Cardiovascular Diseases Fact Sheet.

• American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – Women.

• European Society of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Disease in Women Guidelines.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women and Heart Disease Overview.