International Women's Day is a day of unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action and is celebrated in many countries worldwide.

Today, we shine a light on women’s health. This is something many women neglect as they often fill their days putting other people’s needs before their own. We met with Dr. Indra Warren, Joseph Brant Hospital’s Head of Cardiology to ask her about the leading cause of death in women, heart disease, and what signs and symptoms women can look out for and what women can do to prevent and reduce their risk.

“Heart disease in women is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Until recently, most studies were comprised of predominantly men. We cannot simply extrapolate these findings and recommendations for women.”

The risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age and the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and smoking.

For women, estrogen provides a protective effect which wanes with menopause and pregnancy-related complications such as gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia may be early warning signs of cardiovascular disease.

What symptoms should women look for?

Heart attack symptoms can vary for each individual and can range from chest discomfort, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, light-headedness and upper body discomfort.

Women can present with different symptoms than men, such as unusual fatigue and pain. Symptoms such as these may be misdiagnosed as anxiety. Women may also miss common warning signs by believing their symptoms are related to a less serious cause. 

“Women may also delay seeking medical attention due to stress, busy lives and preferring not to burden anyone.”

What can women do to prevent and reduce their risk of heart disease?

Control risk factors that they are able to change, such as 

• avoiding smoking
• reducing sedentary time
• being physically active
• managing and optimizing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
• eating a healthy diet

“It is equally important for women to advocate for themselves. I encourage them to ask their doctor to check their heart and assess their individual risk. Improving your risk starts with knowledge.”  

To learn more about the risks and signs of heart disease, click here: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/women/risks-and-signs