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Previous studies evaluating patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction have suggested that nitrates improve activity tolerance. 7,8 Nitrates have been commonly prescribed to relieve symptoms of heart failure, 4-6,9 and the hemodynamic benefits of nitrates are expected to improve pulmonary congestion and exercise capacity in patie...
- Overview
- Early signs of heart disease in women
- Other heart disease symptoms in women
- Heart disease risk factors for women
- When to contact a doctor
- Diagnosing heart disease in women
- Is heart disease treatment different for women?
- Preventing heart disease in women
- The bottom line
Heart disease is often thought of as a health problem that mostly affects men. However, it’s the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to Medline Plus, it’s responsible for about 1 in 4 female deaths each year.
Heart disease is also called cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease includes several different conditions that can affect your heart and blood vessels. These include:
•coronary artery disease (blockages in the blood vessels around the heart)
•peripheral artery disease (blockages in the blood vessels in the arms or legs)
•problems with your heart’s rhythm (arrhythmia)
Many women don’t have any symptoms of heart disease until they have a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack. However, if you do have early symptoms of heart disease, they may include:
•chest pain or discomfort that can be either sharp, or dull and heavy (called angina)
•pain in your neck, jaw, or throat
•pain in your upper abdomen
•upper back pain
•nausea
More symptoms may become apparent as heart disease progresses. Symptoms can differ depending on what specific type of heart disease you have.
The symptoms of heart disease in women are also different from those in men, who are more likely to have chest pain.
Potential later symptoms of heart disease in women include:
•swelling in your legs, feet, or ankles
•weight gain
•problems sleeping
Some types of heart disease are congenital, which means they’re a result of issues in the way the heart was formed.
Genetic factors may also influence the chance of developing heart disease. However, there are also some conditions that can put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease. These include:
•diabetes
•high blood pressure (hypertension)
•having high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy
•inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
It’s never too early to contact a doctor to discuss your risk of heart disease. In fact, the new primary prevention guidelines say that the earlier the risk factors for heart disease are prevented or treated, the less likely you are to develop heart disease later in life.
So, if you’re concerned about your risk of heart disease, make an appointment to discuss how you can prevent this highly preventable condition. You can connect with a cardiologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.
If you’re having any symptoms at all, it’s very important to discuss these with your doctor, as heart disease can masquerade in many different ways.
It’s easy to dismiss many warning signs of heart disease like fatigue, indigestion, and shortness of breath as just an ordinary part of life or mild illness. But because a heart attack can happen suddenly, it’s important not to ignore any potential warning signs.
If you have any of the above symptoms of heart disease, especially if you also have risk factors, contact a doctor.
Medical emergency
To diagnose heart disease, a doctor will first ask about your personal and family medical history. They’ll then ask about your symptoms, when they started, and how severe they are. They’ll also ask about your lifestyle, such as if you smoke or exercise.
Blood tests can help a doctor figure out your risk of heart disease. The most common is a lipid profile, which measures cholesterol and triglycerides.
Depending on your symptoms and history, your doctor may do other blood tests, including tests to check:
•inflammation levels
•sodium and potassium levels
•blood cell counts
Generally speaking, heart disease treatment for women doesn’t differ much from treatment for men. The treatment will depend on the type of heart disease you have and may include:
•Medication. Depending on the type of heart disease you have, medication may include one or more of the following:
•Cholesterol-lowering medications can help reduce your LDL or “bad” cholesterol and increase your HDL or “good” cholesterol.
•Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prevent your body from forming angiotensin. Angiotensin is a hormone that can cause your blood vessels to constrict, resulting in hypertension (high blood pressure).
•Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) also work by blocking angiotensin and can lower blood pressure.
•Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents help prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries.
The risk factors for heart disease are complicated and include genetics, other biological factors, and general health and lifestyle factors.
While you may not be able to completely eliminate your risk of heart disease, you can take steps to reduce it. These include:
•Get your blood pressure checked regularly. If it’s high, work with your doctor to lower it. This may include medication and lifestyle changes.
•If you smoke, seek help to quit. This can be difficult, but a doctor can help create a smoking cessation plan that’s right for you.
•If you have risk factors for diabetes, such as family history or obesity, get your blood sugar tested.
•If you do have diabetes, keep blood sugar under control.
Heart disease is much more common in women than many people realize. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death for women.
Many women who have heart disease don’t have any symptoms. Connect with your doctor early to determine your risk of heart disease and how you can reduce this risk.
If you do have symptoms, it’s important to contact a doctor as soon as possible so they can test for heart disease and provide treatment before heart damage occurs.
Read this article in Spanish.
- Erica Hersh
May 17, 2011 · In the setting of coronary artery disease, nitrate tolerance has been demonstrated as the loss of effects on treadmill walking time and time of onset of angina.
Apr 4, 2017 · Nitrates may be beneficial in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) by enhancing cGMP signaling and improving hemodynamics, but real-world data on potential efficacy are lacking.
- Shir Lynn Lim, Lina Benson, Ulf Dahlström, Carolyn S.P. Lam, Lars H. Lund
- 2017
Marvin A. Konstam. , and. Javed Butler. J Am Coll Cardiol HF. 2013 Jun, 1 (3) 183–191. Topic (s): Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathies. PDF. Download Citation. Sections. About. Combination therapy with hydralazine and nitrates can improve outcomes in patients with heart failure and low ejection fraction.
- Divya Gupta, Vasiliki V. Georgiopoulou, Andreas P. Kalogeropoulos, Catherine N. Marti, Clyde W. Yanc...
- 2013
Oct 1, 2021 · Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), or the abnormal dilation and constriction of the small vessels of the heart, is the underlying cause of INOCA in one-half of cases.
People also ask
Does nitrate affect activity tolerance in heart failure?
Are nitrates effective in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
Does nitrate use affect cardiovascular events in patients with HFpEF?
Are nitrates a risk factor for heart failure?
May 12, 2023 · Nitrates, such as Nitrostat (nitroglycerin), dilate blood vessels to restore blood flow and treat CVD. Statins, such as Mevacor (lovastatin) and Livalo (pitavastatin) reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol. A provider may recommend a statin if you’re at higher risk or have diabetes.
