Are Women More Prone to Cardiac Vascular Diseases?

A very Happy Women’s Day to all the amazing women out there!

Following the global theme of #EmbraceEquity, we’d like to take this opportunity to reflect upon how heart health is important among women across the globe.

Why are women more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than men?

Factors like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are common causes of CVD in both men and women. However, there are other risk factors which make women more likely to have poor heart health:

  • High testosterone levels just before menopause
  • Hypertension before and after menopause
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (more prevalent in women than in men)
  • Depression and stress
  • Low awareness of risk factors
  • Poor understanding of heart attack symptoms

Heart attack gender gap causing more deaths

A British survey states that: Women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis, increasing the risk of death by up to 70%.Women are less likely to receive standard treatments like bypass surgery or stents than men.

Heart-related issues in women and lapses in diagnosis

Women are more prone than men to develop plaque buildup in the smallest blood vessels in the heart, known as the microvasculature.

It’s also worth noting that women’s hearts and blood vessels are smaller than men’s. Angiograms cannot clearly show plaque buildup in the smaller arteries, which can lead to heart disease in women being overlooked.

Women frequently fail to recognize heart attack symptoms and postpone treatment. Furthermore, medical myths like women experience “atypical” symptoms that are more difficult to diagnose. In reality, women have the same key symptoms as men.

Did you know? According to a British Heart Foundation report, over a period of 10 years, more than 8,200 women died needlessly as a result of inequalities in heart attack care.

Women encountering heart attacks at younger age

A journal published last November examined data on heart attacks in people aged 35 to 74 in four communities in Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Carolina. A whopping 30% of those were under the age of 54.

Why is this trend on a rise?

Women’s heart attacks and other cardiac ailments are on the rise around the world. According to the most recent statistics, diseases such as heart attacks and cardiac arrest kill ten times more women than breast cancer. A number of factors can harm a woman’s heart health and make her more vulnerable to heart disease. Undiagnosed blood pressure problems that end up damaging the heart are one of the factors silently increasing the risk of cardiac ailments in women.

Among the reproductive factors that put women at risk of heart attack is early menopause, PCOS, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery.

Why is women’s heart care important in Dubai?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the UAE, but according to a new study, only one in every five women is aware of the risk factors, while the majority believe they know everything.

According to a new survey – In UAE, more than 80% of women incorrectly identified heart disease as the leading cause of female deaths in the country. In fact, as per Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi research, 46% of women incorrectly believed breast cancer was the leading cause of death.

Observations reveal that Emirati women are unable to recognise the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, and only one in ten believe they are at risk.

According to the Zayed University study, 6.1% of women believe they could take aspirin if they thought they were having a heart attack. In the event of a suspected heart attack, the majority of women said they would go to a hospital on their own, and many would call a family member for help, but 30% did not know how to call an ambulance.

The good news is that prevention works and can reduce a woman’s risk of developing heart disease by up to 80%.

Women’s cardiovascular care

Here is what could be done:

Preventive Checkups

Women dealing with cardiovascular or heart disease – their symptoms are frequently under-recognized and under-publicized. This leads to poorer outcomes. For e.g. in most incidences, women are unaware whether they are experiencing a heart attack or chest pain.

Improve CVD prevention and care disparities for women

Raise medical community awareness of issues affecting women with CVD, with an expected improvement in primary and secondary CVD prevention and outcomes.

Improve community education on women’s CVD                     

Medical school curricula must include sex-specific aspects of CVD. In addition, clinical rotations in women’s cardiovascular disease should be required for internal medicine and cardiology training.

More health campaigns

We can address the need for more effective public health campaigns and awareness efforts to highlight disparities and the need for improvement. Also, women should not remain underrepresented in cardiovascular trial programs.

Improve CVD prevention and care disparities for women

Raise medical community awareness of issues affecting women with CVD, with an expected improvement in primary and secondary CVD prevention and outcomes.

Regular check-ups

Your health checklist must compulsorily include the following points:

High blood pressure Get your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure is below 120/80, you should have it checked at least every two years. Women with high blood pressure may require more frequent screening.

Cholesterol – You should have your cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. Women with high cholesterol, a family history of the condition, and risk factors for diabetes and high blood pressure may need to be screened more frequently.

Takeaway

All in all, elevating the level of education of women in this regard should be the bottom line. This can then directly help them to understand their CVD risk, treatment options, and advocacy. This should be made an invaluable part of all women’s cardiovascular programs, which in turn can establish support groups for women who are already living with CVD.

On this international women’s day, we wish that equity is truly embraced and manifested in women’s preventive heart care measures. It just shouldn’t stay as an option but should be considered as an unavoidable necessity!

 

GHC is dedicated to providing unwavering cardiovascular care for women

German Heart Centre (GHC)’s unmatched cardiovascular care for women is a vital part of the health services they offer. The team at GHC are dedicated to providing comprehensive and high-quality care that addresses all aspects of maintaining heart health and wellness in women.

From screening tests to lifestyle advice, cardiovascular check-ups, dieting tips and more, GHC has you covered when it comes to heart health. With their commitment to excellence and dedication to patient satisfaction, you can rest assured that your cardiovascular needs will be taken care of in the best way possible at GHC.

Wishing every woman a ‘happy heart’ today & every day!

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