Heart and vascular hero image

Heart & Vascular:
Conditions

Women’s Heart Conditions

Pregnancy, menopause, depression, and obesity can raise your risk for heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease. We treat many conditions, but we also care for your heart by understanding you and where you are in your life. Though your care centers around you and your family, it's backed by a long tradition in research and education. So you always know you'll get the latest, most advanced care available at the Women's Heart Center.

Our experts have been at the forefront of studying and treating Cardiovascular Disease in women for over 50 years. We provide the latest evidence-based treatments in areas that include cardiovascular risk associated with inflammation and rheumatologic diseases, cardiovascular complications in pregnancy including hypertension, cancer treatment, and future cardiac risk, depression and its effect on cardiovascular health, chest pain in women, and so much more.

Are You at Risk?

Common risk factors for heart and vascular disease include:

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Family History
  • Psychological or Emotional Stress
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • High Cholesterol
  • Age

In the case of a heart attack, no symptom should be taken lightly. If symptoms exist, act on them as soon as possible and call 911 as soon as the symptoms appear. With heart attacks, TIME = MUSCLE. A heart attack can damage the heart within 30 minutes of the start of symptoms, and sometimes the damage can be irreversible. Call 911 even if you are not sure it is a heart attack. It could save your life.

Women's Heart Condition Symptoms

Women often have symptoms that are different than men. Many women do not realize they are having a heart attack because the symptoms may be mild, or they may attribute the symptoms to stress, muscle strain, indigestion, or the flu. It is essential to recognize these atypical symptoms because not all heart attacks manifest with chest pain. This tends to be the case more so in women compared to men.

Chest Pain or Discomfort – It may feel like a squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness or fullness. Heaviness or Pain in other areas including back, neck, jaw, or arms. This is more common in women. The pain or pressure can be gradual or sudden. It may come and go, gradually intensify, or awaken one from sleep.

Cold Sweats – This can occur even without chest discomfort. If there is no obvious reason for sweating such as exercise or hot flashes, consider having your physician investigate this further.

Fatigue – Some women may experience feeling extremely tired even during routine tasks, a gradual or sudden decrease in energy level, or inability to complete tasks that they were able to in the past.

Nausea – This can be mistaken for other problems such as flu, heartburn, or stomach ulcers. However, nausea can also be a presentation of heart disease or angina.

Shortness of Breath – This can occur with minimal activity or with activities that previously did not cause difficulty with breathing. This is especially important because people with diabetes may not necessarily have chest pain and this may be their only symptom of a heart attack.

Lightheadedness – May occur with activity or in conjunction with any of the other symptoms. 

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with a physician who specializes in treating women with heart disease, please call 404-778-7777.