Women face unique heart disease risks, UVA cardiologists say

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- February is American Heart Month -- a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the country. While many understand the general risk factors, experts at University of Virginia (UVA) Health are highlighting the unique challenges women face when it comes to cardiovascular health.

Doctors Nisha Hosadurg and Kelly Wingerter, women’s heart specialists at UVA Health, emphasize that women not only share traditional risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol with men, but also experience risks specific to their life experiences -- like pregnancy.

"Pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, early, so preterm birth and low birth weight babies and then things kind of throughout our lifetime that can increase our cardiovascular risk," Wingerter said.

Hosadurg added that even factors like autoimmune diseases, certain mental health disorders and conditions like HIV are also linked to higher heart disease risk in women.

Recognizing the symptoms of heart disease is crucial. While men often experience crushing chest pain, women's symptoms can differ. Women more frequently report shortness of breath, especially with exertion. Other symptoms may include numbness in an arm, jaw pain, back pain, weakness and fatigue.

So, what can women do to protect their hearts? Wingerter and Hosadurg said exercising regularly and eating clean can help.

"We know that red meat and our standard American diets are not very good for us and they're not heart healthy, but things that are [include] Mediterranean diets and whole food," Wingerter said. "Plant-based diets have [also] been found to be more heart-healthy."

Wingerter also highlighted the importance of knowing your blood pressure levels, noting that the American Heart Association's "Know Your Numbers" campaign is a valuable resource for this.

"Normal blood pressure should be less than 120 over 80 [and] normal total cholesterol should be less than 200," Wingerter said.

For more information on heart disease, click here.