The Silent Crisis: Cardiovascular Disease Among Women

The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease

Nearly 45% of women over the age of 20 are living with cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association and Mass General Cardiologist Dr. Meagan Wasfy. This worrying statistic underscores the critical importance of raising awareness about heart disease risk factors and prevention strategies among women.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. These disorders of the heart and blood vessels encompass coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, with a third of these deaths occurring prematurely in individuals under 70 years of age.

Heart Disease: A Silent Killer Among Women

Women are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain during a heart attack. Yet, the awareness of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in women is declining, particularly among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women. This lack of awareness is deeply concerning, given the disease's prevalence. For example, heart disease accounts for 28.3% of Hispanic women's deaths.

Furthermore, heart disease is also the leading cause of death among women in the United States, with Black women disproportionately affected. Many African American women are not even aware of their risk, highlighting the urgent need for education to save lives.

The Unique Risk Factors for Women

The risk factors for heart disease among women can be influenced by a variety of elements, including family history, socioeconomic status, access to health care, and environmental influences. A key aspect to consider is that women often present with different symptoms of heart disease compared to men. Therefore, it is essential to partner with a physician who understands the unique needs of women's hearts and individual risk factors to devise appropriate heart care and disease prevention strategies.

The Urgency of Addressing Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Despite advances in understanding the biological basis for sex differences in CVD, prevailing views of women and their risks for CVD have typically mirrored developments in cardiovascular epidemiology and outcomes research. This mirroring has resulted in an oversight of sex-specific data on reproductive and obstetric variables, slowing progress in women's health.

Research from the American Heart Association reveals that heart disease is the number 1 killer among new moms, further highlighting the need for increased research and awareness in the area of women's cardiovascular health. The U.S. has one of the worst maternal mortality rates among developed countries, with a mother of three in Hickory surviving three heart attacks as a new mother.

It is clear that cardiovascular disease among women is a silent crisis. Urgent, targeted, and sustained efforts are needed to raise awareness, educate, and provide the necessary resources for the prevention, management, and treatment of heart disease among women.