Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. While many people associate heart attacks with men, women are just as likely to develop heart disease – and often face unique risks, symptoms, and outcomes.
In fact, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack every 34 seconds. Understanding how heart disease affects men and women differently can make a life-saving difference.
Understanding Heart Disease Risk by Sex
Many of the major risk factors for heart disease are the same for everyone. Age, family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, metabolic syndrome, smoking, and alcohol use all play a role in cardiovascular health.
However, how these factors impact risk — and when that risk shows up — can differ significantly between men and women.
Before menopause, estrogen provides some protective benefits for women’s hearts. As a result, women often develop heart disease about 10 years later than men. After menopause, however, this protection decreases, and risk rises quickly.
Because heart disease tends to appear later in women, symptoms may be dismissed as “normal aging,” stress, or other non-cardiac issues — leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Heart Attack Symptoms in Men vs Women
One of the most dangerous differences between men and women is how heart attacks present.
Common Symptoms in Men
Men are more likely to experience what many people consider “classic” heart attack symptoms, including:
- Pressure, tightness, or pain in the center of the chest
- Pain that spreads to the arms, shoulders, neck, or jaw
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
These symptoms are more widely recognized, which often leads to faster treatment.
Common Symptoms in Women
Women may experience chest pain — but many do not. Instead, symptoms can be more subtle and easier to overlook, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Extreme or unexplained fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
Because these symptoms don’t always resemble a “typical” heart attack, they’re sometimes mistaken for anxiety, stress, heartburn, or other non-cardiac conditions.
Atypical symptoms can delay diagnosis and treatment, even when women seek emergency care. Delays increase the risk of complications, long-term damage, and death.
Studies show that women are more likely than men to die within the first year after a heart attack and are more likely to develop heart failure in the years that follow. These outcomes are often tied to later recognition of symptoms and slower access to treatment.
What Women (and Men) Should Know
Heart disease awareness shouldn’t stop at knowing risk factors — it should include recognizing symptoms that don’t fit the stereotype.
It’s especially important for women to:
- Take new or unusual symptoms seriously
- Speak up if something feels “off”, even without chest pain
- Seek emergency care right away for concerning symptoms
- Call 9-1-1 rather than driving themselves to the hospital
Heart disease doesn’t look the same for everyone. Understanding how symptoms and risk differ between men and women can help prevent missed diagnoses — and save lives.
If you or someone you love experiences symptoms that feel unusual or concerning, trust your instincts and seek care immediately. When it comes to heart health, it’s always better to act sooner rather than later.