At Sentara, we recognize the unique health needs of women, especially when it comes to heart disease. In those assigned female at birth, heart disease is the leading cause of death. Women's heart disease also tends to go underrecognized, misdiagnosed and untreated. Our heart specialists have extensive expertise diagnosing and treating women's heart disease.
Some experience the tell-tale signs of a heart attack: a sharp pain or pressure in the chest that moves down your arm. But many experience more subtle symptoms, some of which might seem like anxiety or heartburn.
Symptoms of a heart attack in women may include:
- Anxiety
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Extreme shortness of breath
- Heartburn
Women may also experience pain in the:
- Back
- Throat
- Jaw
- Shoulder blade
- Upper abdomen
Some risk factors for heart disease are the same in women and men, such as inactivity, excess weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But other factors affect women more than men, including:
- Depression
- Diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Menopause
- Smoking
- Stress
Men typically have a heart attack because a main coronary artery is clogged by plaque. In women, however, it's the small arteries that are affected. But instead of plaque forming in the arteries, the artery walls become damaged, causing spasms and decreasing blood flow to the heart.
This condition is called microvascular disease, and it's easily missed during heart catheterization. At Sentara, we also perform coronary reactivity testing, the gold standard for detecting microvascular disease.
The doctor performs this test in a heart cath lab during an angiogram. An angiogram is an imaging procedure that uses X-ray equipment to take pictures of the blood vessels. During coronary reactivity testing, the doctor injects medication into your blood vessels to pinpoint the location of blockages. Changes in the size of the arteries and blood flow indicate abnormal reactivity.
Please learn more about our cardiac imaging and diagnostic testing.
Our patient-focused staff offers guidance and specialty programs designed to help women. We strive to reduce their risk of heart disease and successfully treat their heart conditions, including when pregnant or during and after cancer treatments. We welcome you to learn more about our experts dedicated to assisting you.
Call 1-800-SENTARA (1-800-736-8272) to learn more.