Cardiac disease has been the leading cause of death for men and women in the US for the past three decades, yet women continue to be seriously underdiagnosed and under-treated compared to men. As stated by Harvard Medical School cardiologist, Michelle O’ O’Donoghue, “There are gender-based gaps at every possible level, from women’s awareness of symptoms to how they’re treated in the emergency department and doctor’s offices.” What are the reasons for this gap, and how can it be narrowed so women can enjoy a longer and better life?
Different Symptoms
The leading sign of a heart attack in men and women is chest discomfort, which is felt as severe pressure or tightness in the chest. However, women can often have very different symptoms than men, including pain in the jaw, tingling in either arm, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness. They may also experience back, shoulder, or stomach pain. Moreover, there are three so-called “unusual heart attacks” that are far more prevalent in women. These are myocardial infarction (temporary tightening of the heart’s arteries), spontaneous coronary artery dissection (a tear in the inner wall of one of the arteries), and stress cardiomyopathy (which occurs after severe emotional or physical stress and manifests itself as a surge in hormones that changes the heart’s shape).
A Lack of Representation in Studies
In many studies carried out on the effectiveness of certain approaches to cardiac disease, women are left out. This is the case, for instance, in the case of trials focusing on the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), better known as an implantable defibrillator. An ICD can be a true life-saver for patients with a dangerously fast heartbeat called ventricular tachycardia. It is sometimes implanted if patients are at a high risk of dangerous irregular heartbeats. In addition to being underrepresented in trials for the use of ICD therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death, women are also less likely to receive appropriate ICD therapy for ventricular arrhythmias following implantation. Sex differences have also been found in ICD implantation between the sexes, with no known reason. In one study, scientists postulated that sex bias is a possible factor causing the gap.
Delayed Treatment
Women who have heart attacks wait longer (around 37 minutes, to be exact) than men to get help, as found in a 2018 study. They may have no idea that they are having a heart attack, because they may not feel intense chest pain or pressure. At other times, however, women do make it to urgent care only to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or other issues. The answer to this and other problems involves awareness. Governments must invest in education for health professionals and women as a whole. Women are urged to call an ambulance immediately if they have any of the symptoms mentioned above. In the case of artery blockages, the faster restoration of blood flow saves more of the heart muscle and results in less dead tissue. This lowers the risk of heart failure and death.
The gender gap between women and men is significant. Women take longer to get help and are sometimes misdiagnosed because heart attacks can manifest themselves in women with symptoms other than chest pain. Women should seek emergency care if they experience any of the symptoms mentioned in this post or if they have a general feeling that something is seriously wrong.
