Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, accounting for 1 in every 5 female deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, almost as many women as men die each year from heart disease, yet their symptoms often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.
“Heart disease in women doesn’t always look the way we expect,” said Dr. Anandita Kulkarni, a preventive cardiologist and women’s heart specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano. “Women may not experience the ‘classic’ crushing chest pain. Instead, they might feel fatigued, nauseous, or have discomfort in their neck or jaw.”
In addition to chest pain, women’s symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- Pain in the neck, jaw, upper abdomen or back
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unusual fatigue
- Lightheadedness or shortness of breath
“Unfortunately, women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, even when they’re having a heart attack,” Dr. Kulkarni said. “That delay in treatment can significantly impact outcomes.”
In addition, women tend to have worse outcomes after their first heart attack. A 2016 study published by Harvard Medical School found that women are more likely to die, suffer from heart failure, or experience a stroke within five years of a heart attack than men—47% compared to 36%.
This knowledge gap and the unique risk factors women face are what inspired the creation of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano. Located at 1100 Allied Drive, Plano, it is one of the first programs of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to focus on heart disease prevention with a specific emphasis on women’s cardiovascular health.
“One of the key things we do is identify risk early,” Dr. Kulkarni said. “If we can reach women before they have a cardiac event, we can prevent a lot of suffering.”
One particularly surprising link? Pregnancy. Conditions such as gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure are no longer seen as isolated events. They’re now understood to be early markers for heart disease.
“Pregnancy acts like a stress test on the body,” Dr. Kulkarni said. “If a woman develops complications during pregnancy, that may be her body revealing a predisposition to heart disease.”
This means that a woman with a history of pregnancy complications—especially gestational diabetes or preeclampsia—could be at significantly higher risk for cardiovascular issues later in life.
To help women better understand and manage their risk, the center uses a three-step approach:
- Identify women at risk – Women can self-refer or be referred by their primary care doctor or OB/GYN. Family history, lifestyle and pregnancy history are all considered.
- Evaluate and personalize treatment – Based on risk level, patients receive custom care plans that can include lifestyle counseling, medical therapy and ongoing support.
- Implement prevention protocols – Preventive actions may be as simple as improving diet and exercise or as structured as following the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7,” which includes managing cholesterol and blood pressure, quitting smoking and reducing blood sugar.
To find out if you’re at risk for heart disease, take this short quiz or schedule a consultation with a specialist at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano.
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.
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