Pregnancy and the hormonal life cycle can have a major impact on a woman’s cardiovascular health and life expectancy. However, the research behind the mechanisms by which women are negatively affected is incomplete and mostly limited.

According to U.S. Air Force Col. Travis Butts, Ph.D., chief of cardiology at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgery Center at Lackland Air Force Base, women are less likely than men to receive guideline-recommended medications and invasive cardiac management. It is said that there is a low possibility of receiving it. Located in San Antonio, Texas.

“The impact of pregnancy on heart health cannot be overstated,” Butts says. “As the average age of first-time mothers in the United States increases, so do their likelihood of cardiovascular disease risk factors.”

Butts said this trend has led to an emphasis on pre-pregnancy cardiovascular evaluation to lower risks.

“The relationship between maternal age and cardiovascular health highlights a broader trend of increased heart disease, particularly heart attacks in young women between the ages of 30 and 50,” Butts said. “This change highlights the importance of quickly and appropriately recognizing and treating heart attack symptoms, regardless of age or perceived health status.”

“Our growing understanding of heart attack symptoms and the impact of the hormonal life cycle in women highlights the critical need for personalized medicine,” Butts said. “The goal is to reduce disparities in care and improve outcomes for all individuals at risk for heart disease, with a particular focus on young and middle-aged women who are at risk of underdiagnosis and undertreatment.” .”

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both women and men worldwide. But heart attack symptoms and responses to those symptoms can vary widely by gender, and “recent research has highlighted women’s unique vulnerabilities and treatment differences,” Butts said. Ta. “This discrepancy contributes to increased mortality among women and highlights the urgent need for gender-specific approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart disease.”

Heart attack symptoms in women may go unrecognized

Heart attack symptoms are different for men and women, so pay attention to how women experience heart attacks. (Graphic credit: Kim Farcot, Defense Health Agency)

When you have a heart attack, minutes matter. Quick action can save lives. Women often experience symptoms other than the chest-bursting pain and pain in their left arm that are common in men who have had a heart attack.

For example, women are more likely to experience pain between the shoulder blades, abdominal pain, and nausea. In some situations, failure to identify the unique symptoms a woman experiences may delay treatment.

If you are a woman, the most common heart attack symptoms are:

• chest pain or discomfort
• Arm, back, neck, and jaw pain
• stomach pain
• Shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness
• cold sweat
• Malaise

How long do women have symptoms before a heart attack?

Many people expect heart attacks to occur suddenly. However, research has shown that women experience symptoms several weeks before a heart attack. Doctors say it’s important to encourage women to seek medical attention if they have symptoms. Even if you don’t have chest pain, it can lead to heart disease and even a heart attack. It’s especially common among women.

“Even though women have more symptomatic chest pain than men, they are less likely to receive timely and appropriate care,” Butts said. “A May 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women wait an average of 11 minutes longer when seeking emergency care for a heart attack.” We know that delays have a direct impact on heart attack outcomes.”

Should I take aspirin during a heart attack?

Medical advice about taking aspirin has changed over the years when it comes to treating the first heart attack and preventing subsequent heart attacks.

• Do nothing before calling 911. Specifically, don’t take aspirin and wait until the pain subsides. Aspirin alone cannot treat a heart attack.
• The paramedic will advise you whether you should take aspirin and how much.
• If the operator does not offer aspirin, you can pick up the medication at the ambulance or emergency department.

Heart attacks can happen even if you are young and healthy

Heart attacks are on the rise among young women, according to a 2019 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute study.

Researchers were surprised to find that while the incidence of heart attacks was decreasing in older people, it was increasing in people aged 35 to 54, especially women. A November 2019 study published in the journal Circulation looked at more than 28,000 people hospitalized with heart attacks in four cities.

According to an August 2020 paper published in the Journal of the American College of It is responsible for 40% of heart attacks in women. Cardiology Her average SCAD patient is just 42 years old, probably healthy and active, with no signs of heart disease.

“The prevalence of SCAD highlights the need for increased awareness and specialized research to understand and effectively treat this condition,” said Butts.

Finally, other conditions, such as myocardial infarction due to unobstructed arteries, reveal a range of conditions that can cause a heart attack even in the absence of normal risk factors or cardiac test findings, Butts said. Stated.

conclusion

“As our approach to the diagnosis and management of chest pain syndromes continues to evolve, we must emphasize the impact of racial and ethnic differences on the evaluation of chest pain patients,” said Butts. This is the group that is associated with worse outcomes, more heart attacks, and higher mortality rates. ”

If you experience warning signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Calling 911 is often the quickest way to receive life-saving treatment and save heart muscle and tissue.

Emergency medical services teams can begin treatment upon arrival. Treatment can begin up to an hour faster than driving to the hospital. Paramedics are also trained to resuscitate people whose heart has stopped. Patients who arrive by ambulance complaining of chest pain also usually receive faster treatment at the hospital.

“The key to improving heart health for women and men alike is simple: take all symptoms seriously, ask questions about your heart health, and check to see if you have any risk factors for heart disease,” Butts said. Get tested annually,” he shared his final recommendation.