Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for about one in five female deaths. Yet surveys show many women don’t know it — and many don’t recognise their own risk.
Why risk climbs after menopause
Before menopause, estrogen has protective effects on blood vessels and cholesterol. As levels fall:
- LDL (“bad”) cholesterol tends to rise
- Blood pressure often increases
- Fat shifts toward the abdomen, which is linked to higher cardiovascular risk
- Insulin resistance becomes more common
Early menopause (before 45), pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, and autoimmune conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis also raise a woman’s risk.
Heart attack symptoms in women
Chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom for both sexes. But women are somewhat more likely to also experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the jaw, neck, back or arm
- Unusual fatigue
- Lightheadedness
If you have these symptoms, call emergency services. Women are more likely than men to delay seeking help.
What lowers risk
The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 sums up the evidence:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Be physically active
- Don’t smoke or vape
- Get 7–9 hours of sleep
- Manage weight
- Control cholesterol
- Control blood sugar
- Control blood pressure
Know your numbers
Midlife is a good moment to check blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and to ask your clinician about your overall 10-year risk. Many of the most effective interventions — from blood pressure treatment to statins — work best when started before problems appear.