Breast cancer is often seen as a woman’s biggest health threat. But heart disease actually kills more women than all types of cancer combined.
Many women believe heart disease looks the same in women and men. It doesn’t. Women often have more subtle symptoms that can be confusing. Even mild‑seeming signs can be dangerous.
As a result, heart disease in women is often missed or not treated fully. This means many women don’t get the care or treatments that could save their lives.
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What are the warning signs of a heart attack in women?
Women can have the same main warning sign of a heart attack as men: pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. But women may also have other heart attack symptoms that are less obvious.
Some women describe a feeling of pressure, squeezing or fullness in the upper back. Other symptoms can include:
- Anxiety or a feeling that something is wrong
- Pain in the back, neck, jaw, shoulder or arm
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Extreme tiredness or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Upset stomach or vomiting
If you or someone you know has these symptoms, call 911 right away. A fast response can save a life.
Learn more about heart attack symptoms and risk factors
Heart disease risk factors specific to women
Many heart disease risk factors are the same for everyone. These include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Not being physically active
- Eating an unhealthy diet
- Excessive alcohol use
- Family history of early heart disease
Find out more about heart disease risk factors
But women face additional, sex‑specific risks that can increase their chances of developing heart disease. These include:
- Pregnancy‑related conditions, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which are more common in women
- Hormonal factors, including changes during perimenopause and menopause
- Early menopause, which is the loss of estrogen before age 40
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a metabolic condition linked to higher cardiovascular risk
These unique risk factors often appear early in life and may require more proactive and aggressive prevention strategies.
Understand the unique ways heart disease affects women
Living a heart-healthy lifestyle
The simple truth is that most heart disease can be prevented with the right information and healthy daily habits.
For women, a heart‑healthy lifestyle means making choices that protect the heart, support the body through hormonal changes and reduce risks that affect women more than men.
A heart‑healthy lifestyle includes:
- Eat for heart health: Choose foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, low‑fat or fat‑free dairy, nuts and seeds. Try to limit processed foods, added sugars, salty foods and alcohol.
- Exercise regularly: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, like brisk walking. Or get 75 minutes of harder activity, such as jogging or cycling. You can also do a mixture of both.
- Manage stress and mental health: Activities like mindfulness, meditation, regular exercise, getting enough sleep or talking with a therapist can help reduce stress.
- Don’t smoke and limit alcohol: Quit smoking if you smoke. If you drink alcohol, keep it to one drink a day or less.
- Get good sleep: Try to get 7–9 hours of sleep each night.
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor: See your health care provider to learn your personal risk for heart disease and talk about ways to stay healthy.
See what you should eat for a heart-healthy diet
Learn why you should partner with a primary care provider for your health
Preventing heart disease through screening
It’s important for all women to understand their personal risk factors for heart disease.
A good first step is knowing four key health numbers:
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Total cholesterol
These numbers give you and your health care provider a clearer picture of your heart health.
Talk with your provider about your numbers, what they mean and how you can manage them. Your heart — and your overall well‑being — depend on it.
Get step-by-step instructions for preventing heart disease
This blog was medically reviewed by Amparo C. Villablanca, cardiologist and director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine Program.
