Marla Ahlgrimm on Heart Disease and Women

While heart disease is often thought of as a male-dominant health issue, it remains one of the leading causes of death among women, says Marla Ahlgrimm. It is frequently missed, however, because symptoms don't always fall into the “classic” warning signs that people expect. Understanding how heart disease looks different in women can help us recognize problems early and protect our long-term health.

Why Does Heart Disease Look Different In Women?

The simple answer is that the majority of early research on heart disease focused on men. Marla Ahlgrimm says that this resulted in a typical symptom profile being centered on biological males. Sudden chest pain with left arm pain, while not unheard of in women, tends to reflect a male heart problem pattern more than a female one.

Women are more likely to experience medically atypical or subtle symptoms. These are often mistaken for stress, fatigue, or even indigestion. Differences are influenced by hormones, different plaque patterns, smaller coronary artery sizes, and even microvascular disease, a condition more common in women than men. Marla Ahlgrimm says that while these symptoms may be less dramatic, they should still be taken seriously.

Common Heart Attack Symptoms In Women

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women can have chest pain, but it's not always the first or primary heart attack symptom. Warning signs often include moderate chest pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, prolonged fatigue, nausea, upper back, jaw, neck, or shoulder pain, dizziness, and a general sense that something isn't right. Marla Ahlgrimm says that many women also experience significant temperature changes, including cold sweats.

Risk Factors For Women

While many risk factors affect both men and women, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, etc., some factors bring added risk for women. High anxiety, autoimmune conditions, preeclampsia, early menopause, PCOS, and hormone fluctuations all have a greater or sole impact on women than men. Marla Ahlgrimm says that the loss of estrogen after menopause also affects women's risk of heart disease.

Heart Disease Prevention

While no one can prevent disease in every instance, there are many prevention techniques that work. Marla Ahlgrimm says that small changes can reduce a woman's risk of having heart-related complications. 

Key prevention strategies include:

• Regular blood pressure monitoring
• Cholesterol and blood sugar checks
• Physical activity
• Eating a minimally processed diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight range
• Limiting alcohol
• Prioritizing sleep quality
• Managing stress

Marla Ahlgrimm notes that the American Heart Association and other health groups routinely emphasize that small, consistent lifestyle changes can significantly reduce lifetime heart attack risk.

No one is without risk of heart problems. However, Marla Ahlgrimm says that women who follow the tips above can reduce their risk and improve their overall health.

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, Marla Ahlgrimm says to seek emergency medical help as soon as possible.