More than 4 in 10 women in the United States are living with heart disease.[1] Also called cardiovascular disease, heart disease claims the lives of more American women than all types of cancer combined.[2]

Heart disease increases the risk of life-threatening heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.[3] Taking preventive action—such as improving your diet, staying active, and managing other health conditions—can help protect the heart.[4] Here’s what you should know about women’s heart health.

How does heart disease affect women?

Women are more likely than men to have silent heart disease, which means they’re less likely to have noticeable symptoms.[5] For this reason, heart disease in women can go undetected for longer, causing irreversible heart damage.[6]

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in women and men.[7] This condition occurs when a fatty substance called plaque builds up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.[8] Because plaque narrows the inside of the arteries, less blood can reach the heart to supply oxygen and nutrients.[9]

Compared to men, women are more likely to develop rarer, more difficult-to-diagnose forms of heart disease, such as:[10]

• Coronary microvascular disease: Blockages in the smallest heart arteries known as microvasculature[11]
• Stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome): A sudden weakening of heart muscle after a physically or emotionally stressful event[12]
• Variant angina: Spasms in the coronary arteries that cause severe chest pain[13]

Heart disease risk factors in women

Women and men share some similar heart disease risk factors, such as:[14]

• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High levels of a protein indicating inflammation in the body (C-reactive protein)
• History of smoking
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity

But some heart disease risk factors are unique to women or affect them disproportionately, such as:[15]

• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• High testosterone levels before menopause
• Menopause and increasing high blood pressure during menopause
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pregnancy, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and postpartum heart complications
• Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress
• Use of hormonal birth control

Steps to prevent heart disease in women

Once you know the risk factors, you can take steps to help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. These actions can help protect women’s heart health:

1. Follow a heart-healthy diet

What you eat and drink affects heart health.[16] My Plate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one way to ensure you get a healthy balance of nutrients from foods every day.

These dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) are also good for your heart:[17]

• Choose healthy fats and proteins.
• Cut back on sodium and eat less carbs, especially added sugar.
• Eat fewer processed foods.
• Emphasize whole grains and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Limit alcohol intake.

2. Get moving

The same recommendations for physical activity that lower your risk of diabetes also protect your heart. Health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the AHA, recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. That’s 30 minutes of activity 5 days a week. [18] You should also do muscle-building and strength-training activities 2 days per week. [19]

If you haven’t been active for a while, check with your health care provider before you get moving. They may want to perform a checkup to ensure there aren’t any health issues that may affect the types of physical activity you choose and the exercise intensity.[20]

Physical activity may provide these heart-protective benefits:[21]

• Burn calories to support a healthy weight
• Boost mood and lower stress hormones
• Improve the heart’s ability to pull oxygen from blood and send it to other muscles
• Increase good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and help control triglycerides
• Lower the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure
• Reduce inflammation in the body

3. Manage your weight

Being overweight can raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels and increase your risk of diabetes.[22] Individually, each of these conditions can be hard on your heart. When combined, the damage to your heart may be worse.[23]

Eating well and staying active can play important roles in weight management and heart health. Your health care provider can offer suggestions to help you achieve a healthy weight. It may be helpful to meet with a registered dietitian to evaluate your eating habits. They can help ensure you meet your nutritional needs while safely losing weight.

4. Take these other heart-protective steps

These actions also can help protect your heart:[24]

• Ensure you get enough sleep.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.
• Get help for depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.
• Lower your cholesterol.
• Manage conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.
• See your health care provider for regular exams.
• Seek help to quit smoking, if needed.

Heart attacks in women

Chest pain is a top symptom of heart attack in women and men.[25] However, women also have unique heart attack symptoms.[26] For instance, women are more likely to have unusual fatigue hours, weeks, or even months before a heart attack.[27] Extreme fatigue can be an early warning sign of heart issues.[28]

Other signs of heart attacks that women are more likely to experience include:[29]

• Chest pressure or tightness
• Dizziness
• Heartburn, indigestion, and abdominal pain
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Pain in the arms, jaw, neck, throat, and/or upper back
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep problems or memory problems
• Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, or fingers

Heart attack symptoms can start mildly and gradually worsen.[30] Symptoms may also come and go.[31] It’s best to contact your health care provider any time you feel like something isn’t right. They can perform a physical exam and possibly run heart tests to figure out what’s going on. Always call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know shows signs of a heart attack.

In summary: Women need to be heart smart

A woman’s risk of heart disease increases after menopause and as they grow older.[32] However, younger women can also have heart disease or heart disease risk factors.[33] Because coronary artery disease and other forms of heart disease don’t always cause symptoms, it’s important to see your provider for regular checkups.[34] Taking charge of your physical and mental health can help protect your heart.

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FAQs about heart disease in women

What heart disease risk factors are unique to women?

Several factors are specific to or disproportionally affect women, putting them at higher risk for heart disease than men, including:

• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Pregnancy, menopause, and use of hormonal birth control
• Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress

What steps can lower heart disease risk in women?

Women can lower their risk of heart disease by taking these steps:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Stay physically active
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure
• Seek help for stress and mental health issues

What are warning signs of heart attack in women?

Heart attacks in women may cause:

• Chest pain, tightness, or pressure
• Indigestion, nausea, and vomiting
• Memory and/or sleep issues
• Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, or fingers
• Unusual fatigue

Sign up for Sincerely Health and create a nutrition profile to help you get healthy today!

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Sources

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Women and Heart Disease. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Women and Heart Disease. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html; American Heart Association. The Facts About Women and Heart Disease. Last reviewed 2024. https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/facts

[3] Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Women and Heart Disease. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/women-and-heart-disease.html; Food and Drug Administration. Tips for Women to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed December 15, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tips-women-prevent-heart-disease

[5] Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heart Disease: Differences in Men and Women. Last reviewed 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heart-disease-differences-in-men-and-women; MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[6] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[7] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[8] Cleveland Clinic. Coronary Artery Disease. Last reviewed October 13, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16898-coronary-artery-disease

[9] Cleveland Clinic. Coronary Artery Disease. Last reviewed October 13, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16898-coronary-artery-disease

[10] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[11] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[12] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html; Cleveland Clinic. Broken Heart Syndrome. Last reviewed November 21, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17857-broken-heart-syndrome

[13] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[14] Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heart Disease: Differences in Men and Women. Last reviewed 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heart-disease-differences-in-men-and-women

[15] Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heart Disease: Differences in Men and Women. Last reviewed 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heart-disease-differences-in-men-and-women; Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[16] Medline Plus. Heart Disease and Diet. Last reviewed July 30, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002436.htm

[17] American Heart Association. The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. Last reviewed July 30, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations

[18] American Heart Association. What Exercise Is Right for Me? Last reviewed January 31, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/go-red-get-fit/what-exercise-is-right-for-me; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Activity: An Overview. Last reviewed December 20, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html

[19] American Heart Association. What Exercise Is Right for Me? Last reviewed January 31, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/go-red-get-fit/what-exercise-is-right-for-me; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Activity: An Overview. Last reviewed December 20, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html

[20] Penn Medicine. Do You Need a Heart Check-Up Before Starting an Exercise Program? Last reviewed June 20, 2022. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/heart-and-vascular-blog/2017/february/do-you-need-a-heart-check-up-before-starting-an-exercise-program

[21] Johns Hopkins Medicine. Exercise and the Heart. Last reviewed 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/exercise-and-the-heart; American Heart Association. What Exercise Is Right for Me? Last reviewed January 31, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/go-red-get-fit/what-exercise-is-right-for-me;

[22] MedlinePlus. How to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed June 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html

[23] MedlinePlus. How to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed June 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html

[24] Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease; MedlinePlus. How to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed June 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html

[25] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html; Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[26] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html; Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[27] Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[28] Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[29] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html; Cleveland Clinic. Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Last reviewed May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17645-women–cardiovascular-disease

[30] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[31] MedlinePlus. Heart Disease in Women. Last reviewed March 27, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseaseinwomen.html

[32] Food and Drug Administration. Tips for Women to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed December 15, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tips-women-prevent-heart-disease

[33] Food and Drug Administration. Tips for Women to Prevent Heart Disease. Last reviewed December 15, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tips-women-prevent-heart-disease

[34] Penn Medicine. Coronary Artery Disease. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/coronary-artery-disease

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