Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women and killed more than 314,000 women in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2020 report in the journal Circulation found that women are more likely to die from a heart attack or heart failure than men.
“Women often ignore symptoms of heart disease, which was historically felt to be a ‘man’s disease’ — this is far from the truth,” says Dr. Briana Costello, a general and interventional cardiologist at The Texas Heart Institute’s Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health.
Dr. Bobbi Chapman, a cardiologist and the medical director of heart failure at Abiomed, says pain in the jaw or back is easy to overlook but may be the only symptom of a heart attack in women. Unexplained pain on the left side is particularly troubling. The American Heart Association also lists this symptom as one that women should keep in mind.
Read the full article: 7 lesser-known signs of heart trouble in women
