Heart disease, the leading cause of death in America, generally hits men earlier in life, but the disease catches up with women as they age. Today, heart disease has become the leading cause of death for females as well as men.

It is time for all women to recognize they, too, are targets for heart disease.

Subtle Heart Attack Symptoms in Women When women suffer heart attacks, the disease tends to mask itself, or at least appear less obvious than when it strikes men.

When a man suffers an attack, the symptoms are clear and rather obvious. Men experience tightness or pressure in the chest. They experience a spreading of pain to the shoulders, neck and especially the left arm. Women, by contrast, undergo less obvious discomforts. When a heart attack strikes, women complain of:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Discomfort between the shoulder blades
• A racing heart beat

Many women fail to recognize these signs as something as serious as a heart attack. That makes them less likely to seek immediate assistance. It can take a much higher understanding of the problem to determine that a woman has undergone a heart attack, experts say.

Harder to Detect Heart Trouble in Women

Heart disease in women can affect the smaller blood vessels in the heart, not the larger ones, as is often the case with men. Physicians warn that these lesser blocks can go undetected during angiograms. These less obvious artery blocks can also be missed by treadmill tests that only monitor the EKG.

Even if a diagnosis is done correctly, some researchers point out that women do not get the proper care. Women tend to be less likely than men to receive medication and treatments.

Pay Attention to Symptoms

The bottom line is that women need to understand the very real risk of heart disease and stroke, especially as they age. If they suffer any heart problems, they must be sure no one overlooks the subtle symptoms. Finally, women need to make sure they receive as much care and attention as male patients. Of course it is best to combat potential heart problems long before they occur.

Lower Heart Disease Risk

The American Heart Association has identified several factors that increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Issues related to family history and age can’t be controlled, but lifestyles can. Behavior is often a contributing factor to heart problems regardless of one’s sex.

Smoking Raises Risk of Heart Attack

Smoking is among the worst things you can do for your body and heart. Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. It is a major cause of cardiovascular heart disease among women. Women who smoke have an increased risk for ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Constant exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk, even for nonsmokers. Women smokers who use birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than nonsmokers who use them.