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03/05/2025 in Colorado Cardiac Care, Health Tips

Women & Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

According to the CDC (2025) over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of CVD and is the leading cause of death for women at any age.

In 2021, CVD was responsible for 1:5 female deaths (CDC, 2025). Knowing the facts about CVD – as well as the signs, symptoms and risk factors – can help you take steps to protect your health and seek proper treatment if you need it (Garcia et al., 2016).

8 FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT WOMEN AND CVD: 

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement was launched in 2004 to raise awareness and combat the greatest health threat to women. 

The organization emphasizes the importance of understanding the following key facts (Go Red For Women, 2025):

  1. CVD kills more women than all forms of cancer combined and yet only 44% of women recognize that CVD is their greatest health threat.
  2. Nearly 45% of women over the age of twenty are living with some form of CVD and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy have good heart health.
  3. CVD is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.
  4. 10% to 20% of women will have a health issue during pregnancy greatly increasing a women’s risk for developing CVD later in life.
  5. Going through menopause does not cause CVD, but the approach of menopause marks a point in midlife when women’s cardiovascular risk factors can accelerate, making increased focus on health during this pivotal life stage is crucial.
  6. 51.9% of hypertension deaths or the “silent killer,” are in women, and out of all women, 57.6% of Black females have hypertension — more than any other race or ethnicity.
  7. Approximately 57.5% of total stroke deaths are in women.
  8. Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim.

What you can do:

In our February blog post,  we explained and identified controllable and non-controllable CVD risk factors for all individuals to be mindful of.

This month, we want to highlight some additional conditions that may put women at higher risk for CVD according to the Mayo Clinic (2024):

Women Experience Specific Risk Factors Including:

  • Early first period (before age 11)
  • Early menopause (before age 40)
  • Surgically induced menopause
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Preterm delivery
  • Delivery of a low birth weight or high birth weight infant
  • A woman’s heart and blood vessels are smaller, and the muscular walls of women’s hearts are thinner.
  • Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
  • Mental health problems such as stress, marital problems, anxiety, depression, or low social support
  • Anemia, especially during pregnancy
  • Endometriosis
  • Hormonal birth control
  • Preeclampsia
  • Eclampsia 

Heart Attack Symptoms For Women

Women are more likely than men to have these symptoms of a heart attack:

  • Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper stomach pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in one or both arms
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness
  • Unusual fatigue
  • Swollen ankles
  • NO chest pain
  • Sleep problems
  • Lack of energy

**These symptoms may be vague but more noticeable than chest pain.

Julie Corliss (2022) reports that different activities can trigger chest pain. In men, angina typically worsens with physical exertion and improves with rest. Women, however, are more likely to experience angina during routine daily activities, such as shopping or cooking, rather than during exercise.

Compared to men, women more frequently experience symptoms while at rest or even while asleep. Emotional and mental stress can also contribute to triggering heart attack symptoms (Corliss, 2022).

Additionally, women are more likely than men to suffer a heart attack without a severe arterial blockage. This condition is known as nonobstructive coronary artery disease.  

WHEN TO GET HELP

At 3CPR, we strongly recommend seeking emergency medical assistance immediately if you experience symptoms of a heart attack (CDC, 2025) or suspect you are having one. Do not drive yourself to the hospital unless no other option is available (Mayo Clinic 2024).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

  • For American Heart Association BLS -CPR, First Aid, PALS certification training contact our office at 720.639.2623 or www.3cpr.org
  • For Mental Health First Aid certification or mental health workplace workshops contact our program manager at ts@3cpr.org.
  • For tailored Health and Wellness Lunch -n-Learns or presentations contact our program manager at ts@3cpr.org.
  • When enrolling for a CPR, First Aid or PALS class, use the promo code “3CPRBLOG” for a discount! 

BLOG WRITTEN BY:

Sophie Mabry, M.A.,
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, EIM II, Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Sports Nutritionist, Mental Health First Aid Responder, BLS CPR and First Aid Instructor, former EMS professional.

REFERENCES:

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