Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14 is the day for saying “I love you” with cards, flowers, and heart-shaped everything. How much do you know about your actual heart? First of all, it’s not exactly shaped like a Valentine’s Day heart, but we all know that.
Did you know, however, than women’s and men’s hearts are different? In fact, women’s hearts differ from men’s in several ways. Acibadem University Medical Faculty Cardiology Department Lecturer and Acibadem University Atakent Hospital Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karabulut lists some of the ways that women’s hearts are different:
- Women’s hearts are smaller, by about 60 grams.
- The veins are finer, by about 1 millimeter on average.
- Women experience more palpitations.
- Veins in women’s hearts are more sensitive and more liable to shrivel.
- Symptoms of diseases do not present as easily. This is an important thing to know when it comes to diagnosing heart problems in women.
- During a heart attack, women’s hearts are less durable. This results in a higher risk of death following a heart attack.
- Symptoms of heart problems present differently in men and women. Men tend to experience more chest pain (resulting in more rapid diagnosis), while women experience symptoms like shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue and bloating. Because these symptoms can have numerous causes, heart disease is not always diagnosed as quickly in women.
- Blood clots are more common in women, especially in those who smoke or use birth control medications.
- On the positive side, women’s veins are more resilient against heart disease, resulting in about a 10 year difference in the development of heart disease vs. men. However, this difference disappears after menopause.
These differences result in different symptoms when a heart attack occurs. Knowing the symptoms can lead to an accurate diagnosis and more timely treatment. Unfortunately, many women don’t understand the symptoms and may not be aware that they are having a heart attack. According to a Lahey Health article, men often experience a crushing pain in the chest, cold sweats and pain in the left arm. Women’s symptoms may be quite different, such as:
- Dizziness, lightheadedness and/or a sense of dread
- Extreme jaw and/or back pain
- Chest pain
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Nausea and/or sweating
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 and get medical attention as soon as possible. It could mean the difference between life and death. This blog is for informational purposes and is not meant to take the place of medical advice. Speak with your physician about any issues regarding your heart health.