What These 5 Women Want You to Know About Living With Heart Disease

on PinterestFive women their stories and what they want others to know about cardiovascular disease.

on PinterestFive women their stories and what they want others to know about cardiovascular disease. Design by Healthline; Photography courtesy of The American Heart Association (AHA)

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among females.
• The signs and symptoms of heart disease and heart attack may differ in females compared to males.
• Five women their experiences with cardiovascular disease and their advice to others for American Heart Month.
• A cardiologist explains how heart disease differs in females and the signs to be aware of.

Cardiovascular disease can affect anyone, but women may face higher risks, especially as they get older.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), it’s the number one cause of death among women, leading to 1 in 3 deaths each year.

Here are some quick facts about female heart disease:

• Cardiovascular disease causes more female deaths than all cancers combined. However, only 56% of women recognize this as their greatest health risk.
• Among females ages 20 and over, 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.
• The risk factors for cardiovascular disease in females can accelerate during menopause.
• There are an estimated 4.1 million female stroke survivors living today. However, approximately 57.5% of total stroke deaths are among females.
• Cardiovascular disease affects some females at higher rates than others. However, most cardiovascular diseases can still be prevented with education and healthy lifestyle changes.

Females may be less likely to receive CPR from a bystander in an emergency situation. This is largely due to the fear of being accused of inappropriate touching, sexual assault, or injuring the individual.

“There are several reasons why women are underdiagnosed for cardiovascular disease,” said Jennifer Mieres, MD, senior vice president for the Center for Advancing Health for All at Northwell, professor of cardiology and associate dean of faculty affairs at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra /Northwell, and Go Red For Women medical expert.

“First, there is a spectrum of symptoms that indicate ischemic heart disease in women. Women can experience symptoms that are different than the traditional “elephant on the chest” pain we often associate with heart disease or a heart attack,” she told Healthline.

“Second, women are vastly underrepresented in clinical trials. So many studies haven’t included women or haven’t analysed women-specific heart health data. As women become represented in medical research, we have begun to refine and advance our understanding of the best ways to diagnose and treat women for cardiovascular disease,” Mieres added.

5 female heart disease survivors their stories

American Heart Month aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease risks.

The following stories are from women who’ve experienced cardiovascular disease and their journeys through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Anjellica Davis, 37

on PinterestDesign by Healthline; Photography courtesy of The American Heart Association

In 2022, Anjellica gave birth to her third son. She expected she would experience some postpartum fatigue. But her symptoms were far from typical. She felt like she was drowning when lying down and had difficulty breathing.

“The first signs didn’t feel dramatic or obvious at all, which is part

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