Heart Attack: The Causes, Symptoms Are Much Different In Women

A new statement from the American Heart Association notes the differences between both causes and symptoms for heart disease-particularly emphasizing differences between genders. 

According to the health organization, if the symptoms that women experience are not caught in a timely matter, they are more likely to be deadly than those relating to male counterparts.

"Over the last 10 years or so, we've learned that women's hearts are different than men's in some significant ways, and while that's helped reduce mortality, there's much more to know," said Dr. Laxmi Mehta, a cardiologist at the Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, in a news release. "Most heart disease research is done in men, so how we categorize it is based on men. We need more science in women."

Researchers noted that the symptoms of a heart attack in women can be atypical or vague. Because of this, risk factors become more potent and more instances involving spontaneous events can occur."Women should not be afraid to ask questions - we advise all women to have more open and candid discussions with their doctor about both medication and interventional treatments to prevent and treat a heart attack," Mehta said. "Coronary heart disease afflicts 6.6 million American women annually and remains the leading threat to the lives of women. Helping women prevent and survive heart attacks through increased research and improving ethnic and racial disparities in prevention and treatment is a public health priority."

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