What are the differences and what is the same?
Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the number 1 cause of death in women? Heart complaints often present less clear symptoms in women than in men, so that they are not always recognized. Six facts and myths about cardiovascular disease in women.
1. Heart complaints are often confused with menopausal complaints
That’s a fact. Women sometimes think that their symptoms are due to the menopause, when they are actually related to their heart or high blood pressure. Think of hot flashes, palpitations, sweating, extreme fatigue and poor sleep.
Do your complaints last for a long time? Does cardiovascular disease run in your family? Then discuss this with your doctor. Even if you have had gestational diabetes, high blood pressure or preeclampsia in the past, it is important to be extra vigilant.
2. Men in particular die from cardiovascular disease
That’s a fable. For a long time, cardiovascular diseases were thought to be men’s diseases, but they certainly don’t just affect men. Every day 107 Dutch people die from the consequences of cardiovascular diseases. On average, this is 50 men and even more – namely 57 – women.
3. Women and men have different risk factors for cardiovascular disease
That is not true, the same risk factors apply to men and women. For example, diabetes, rheumatism, obesity, high blood pressure, an elevated cholesterol level and poorer functioning kidneys increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in both men and women. Heredity also plays a role in both: it is therefore important to be alert to cardiovascular diseases if they are common in your family.
An important difference is that cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight in women often only increase after the menopause. In addition, high blood pressure during pregnancy and gestational diabetes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Men, of course, do not have to deal with these problems.
4. There’s nothing you can do to prevent cardiovascular disease
That too is a myth. There are risk factors that are out of your control, but you can also do a lot yourself. For example, quitting smoking. But also exercise more, eat healthier, deal better with stress and do not drink too much alcohol. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Women get cardiovascular disease later than men
That’s a fact. On average, women develop cardiovascular disease 7 to 10 years later than their male peers.
This has to do with hormonal changes. During their fertile period, female hormones typically provide some protection, but estrogen levels drop during the menopause. This leads to all kinds of changes, such as a less favorable fat distribution. For example, women develop more belly fat during menopause. And they often don’t develop high cholesterol and high blood pressure until after the menopause, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Men usually have high cholesterol and high blood pressure at a younger age, causing them to develop cardiovascular disease earlier in life.
6. A heart attack causes the same symptoms in women as in men
This is certainly not true. When you think of a heart attack, you quickly think of chest pain and a feeling of tightness. This can certainly occur, also in women, but sometimes women do not even notice a heart attack. That’s called a silent stroke. In men, a heart attack usually gives a violent reaction because a blood vessel in the heart is suddenly closed.
In women, a heart attack usually presents itself with vaguer symptoms, because the small blood vessels in the heart calcify more evenly. They become tired, dizzy or nauseous. You do not immediately suspect a problem with the heart. In addition, women with a heart attack may suffer from less typical symptoms, such as pain in the upper abdomen, jaw, neck or back or between the shoulder blades, shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, dizziness, a feeling of restlessness, anxiety or rapid breathing.
