Women’s heart health

Credit © [Ton Photographer4289] / Adobe Stock

Laurie Levesque, february 2022

The male body: a universal standard?

Until recently, studies related to heart disease were primarily male-oriented and generalized to women. This is due to the evolution of health sciences in a patriarchal society, largely focused on “men’s issues”. However, did you know that one in three Canadian women has cardiovascular disease and that a woman is twice as likely to die of a heart attack as a man? (www.chumontreal.qc.ca/cardiof, french academiesb.comsite)

Research that is now more than essential given that, according to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in women in Canada.

Early signs

Health care professionals have found that many women have experienced early warning signs* of a heart attack weeks or even months before the event. They call these signs “atypical” because few men report experiencing them.

Fatigue Unusual and severe drop in energy level that does not subside after several days.  Sleep disorders Difficulty falling asleep or frequent nighttime awakenings, usually due to discomfort or pain that prevents sleep. Shortness of breath Feeling out of breath after an ordinary activity, but especially during an effort.

Indigestion Painful feeling of abdominal distension shortly after a meal, sometimes accompanied by pain or burning in the upper abdomen. Chest pain Mild discomfort, which may also feel like an indigestion. Anxiety Feeling nervous or fearful for no apparent reason or more often than usual. *(Canadian Heart Health Centre for Women, n.d. (b))

Acute symptoms

Immediately before a heart attack, women usually experience chest pain, as do men. However, unlike men, they do not describe this pain as “stabbing”. Instead, it is felt as a pulling or pressing sensation in the abdomen.

Here are the symptoms* that women typically experience just before a heart attack occurs :  Fatigue Significant and unusual drop in energy level that does not subside after several days.  Difficulty breathing Breathing suddenly becomes very difficult, shallow. Radiant pain The pain spreads to the jaw, arm, shoulder and may extend to the back.

These symptoms are less common, but they can also occur : Cold sweats Sweating is sudden despite cool skin. Sometimes the patient complains of hot sensations or redness in the face. Nausea Heartache for no apparent reason, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. Dizziness Feeling weak or lightheaded. *(Source: Canadian Women’s Health Centre, n.d. (b))

Of course, the symptoms vary from woman to woman and do not necessarily all occur at once. Some women experience some of them gradually, while others experience them all at once. Signs may come and go over time, but it is important to call 9-1-1 as soon as the first symptoms appear or as soon as there is any doubt.

Diagnostic

In recent years, researchers have observed physiological differences between the male and female heart. Specifically, they have found that in women, the heart and arteries are smaller and the heart rate is higher. Also, they noted that, unlike men, plaques that stick to the walls of the heart do not enlarge the arteries, but rather narrow them, promoting blood clot formation and obstruction.

As a result, tests for heart disease based on the human heart are inaccurate. As a result, this variation influences diagnosis, treatment, and therefore, survival rates for women. (Canadian Women’s Health Centre. n.d. (a))

In summary,

Breaking down the misconception that heart disease is a man’s problem is critical to closing the sex and gender gap in health. Initiatives such as the Women’s Heart Health Research Chair are doing critical work to improve knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women. Encouraging organizations and researchers who make this issue a priority will help save the lives of many women.