on PinterestHeart disease is the leading cause of death for both males and females, despite the myth that heart disease is a “man’s disease.” Marco Govel/StocksyMost women are unaware of their heart disease risks.
on PinterestHeart disease is the leading cause of death for both males and females, despite the myth that heart disease is a “man’s disease.” Marco Govel/Stocksy
- Most women are unaware of their heart disease risks.
- The myth that heart disease is a ‘man’s disease’ is inaccurate as heart disease is the number one cause of death for both males and females.
- Sex-specific risk factors like menopause, diabetes, obesity, and stress disproportionately put many women at higher cardiovascular risk.
- Experts urge awareness, education, and prevention strategies around female risk factors for heart disease.
Historically, heart disease was thought to be a “man’s disease,” when in fact, it’s the top cause of death among both men and women.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths.
Yet a general lack of awareness about female heart disease persists.
For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that only 56% of women were aware of their cardiovascular risks.
Why then does the leading cause of death among women remain ambiguous?
Jack Wolfson, MD, board certified cardiologist and “The Natural Heart Doctor,” cited historical bias in medicine as one factor.
“For decades, cardiovascular research, diagnostic criteria, and public messaging were centered on men, while women’s symptoms were labeled ‘atypical,’ rather than correctly recognized as different,” he said.
“The myth persists because men tend to have heart attacks earlier, while women often develop cardiovascular disease later and in more subtle ways. Heart disease is a human disease, not a gendered one,” Wolfson said.
Heart disease often presents differently in women, explained Nissi Suppogu, MD, board certified cardiologist and Medical Director of the Women’s Heart Center at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA.
These nuances may sow confusion about symptom recognition, potentially delaying diagnoses.
There’s also a misconception that women face higher risks from breast cancer than heart disease, said Jennifer Wong, MD, board certified cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
“This highlights the need for greater awareness, earlier risk factor screening, and recognition that women may present with more subtle or atypical symptoms,” Wong said.
Healthline spoke with these cardiologists to learn more about the risk of heart disease in women and what can be done to prevent it.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
What are the ‘silent signs’ of heart disease in women?
Wolfson: Many women are told their symptoms are stress, anxiety, or hormonal rather than cardiovascular. When chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations are dismissed, awareness never develops.
Women are also more likely to die after a first heart attack, partly because diagnosis is delayed and symptoms are misunderstood.
Wong: Women tend to have more atypical heart attack symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, neck or jaw pain, and fatigue.
Women may experience heart attacks from less traditional causes, such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) rather than classic atherosclerotic plaque rupture.
Suppogu: More than 50% of women presenting
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