What every woman should know about heart health

Jan. 31, 2024

Video

What to know about women's heart health

Video transcript

The UnitedHealthcare logo—a blue letter U with its right arm split into three stripes—appears on a white background. It winds its way across the background like a ribbon, leading to a view of bright windows.

Against the windows, an African-American woman in glasses and a yellow peacoat smiles as she speaks. Soft, motivational piano music plays. A blue banner appears in the bottom left corner of the view, with white text inside:

ONSCREEN TEXT: Dr. Lisa Saul
UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer
Women’s Health

DR. LISA SAUL: Hi, my name is Dr. Lisa Saul, and I am the Chief Medical Officer for women's health for UnitedHealthcare.

Now white text appears in the center of a deep blue background.

ONSCREEN TEXT: How are women impacted

by heart disease?

The background wipes away, and Dr. Saul speaks near the windows. as Dr. Saul speaks.

DR. LISA SAUL: Heart disease is the number one killer of women in our country. About half of women in our country right now have some form of heart disease.

In a still image, an Asian-American nurse in scrubs fixes a blood pressure monitor cuff to an African-American woman’s upper arm.

DR. LISA SAUL: The leading reason for heart disease is high blood pressure, which often can go undiagnosed for many, many years.

The deep blue background returns with new white text in the center:

ONSCREEN TEXT: How is heart disease different

in women than in men?

Dr. Saul speaks near the windows.

DR. LISA SAUL: Heart disease can often go undiagnosed in women because it shows up very differently in men versus women.

In a still image, a white woman sits on a couch near houseplants in baskets. She takes a deep breath with her eyes closed, a hand on her heart, and her other hand on her belly.

Dr. Saul returns.

DR. LISA SAUL: Because blood vessels are sometimes smaller in the hearts of women than men, they experience heart attacks very differently. Milder symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue may not be as dramatic as men.

ONSCREEN TEXT: Who should be thinking

about their heart health?

DR. LISA SAUL: Heart health is an all-age issue. However, that being said, we do see that certain populations have higher incidences of heart disease, such as the African-American population.

A young African-American woman with natural hair smiles at a health care professional in scrubs, while wearing a blood pressure monitor cuff.

DR. LISA SAUL: In part, seeking care is an issue in the African-American community. But also, the associated complications like diabetes and obesity are things that we tend to see more prevalent in African-Americans and some other communities.

The blue background wipes across the view with new white text:

ONSCREEN TEXT: How do you best assess

your risks of heart disease?

DR. LISA SAUL: There's a lot that we can learn from our family tree. And oftentimes these conversations don't occur in families until something has happened.

A still image shows a multi-generational African-American family together at a dinner table. Two elders, two adult parents, two young children, and a baby smile. They reach for plates of vegetables near a roast chicken.

DR. LISA SAUL: So it's important to have conversations with your mother, your father, your grandparents, your aunts about family history and including heart disease, but also stroke, diabetes, any sorts of lupus or autoimmune diseases.

The blue background wipes across the view with new white text:

ONSCREEN TEXT: What steps should you take if

you think you may be at risk?

DR. LISA SAUL: Knowing your numbers are very important, knowing your blood pressure, knowing your cholesterol levels, knowing what your fasting blood glucose is. Blood sugar is an issue with heart disease as well. And can lead to diabetes. Those things are very important. We know that diet and exercise, smoking, drinking alcohol, those are some of the things that really factor into our overall health.

In a still image, a young Black woman with a shaved head and nose piercing smiles as she drinks from a pink water bottle.

DR. LISA SAUL: And maintaining levels of health and wellness around what we eat and what we're putting into our bodies is really, really important. If you're wondering if you have any risk for heart disease, please talk to your doctor. They're available to help you, to guide you, to provide additional tips, medications—if needed—to help you along your wellness journey.

The UnitedHealthcare logo returns on a white background, then transforms into blue text:

ONSCREEN TEXT: United

Healthcare

The music fades as the view turns to black.

Heart disease is often thought to be more of a health issue affecting men. However, it’s the most common cause of death for women in the United States, causing more than 314,000 deaths in 2020. Because symptoms in women can differ from those in men, it may be more difficult to spot the signs.

By understanding the symptoms and making healthier lifestyle choices, you may help prevent your risk.

“Many women do not realize that heart disease causes about 1 in every 3 female deaths,” said Dr. Lisa Saul, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare. “Women are often not diagnosed with heart disease as quickly as men are, which means being aware of the risks and making heart-healthy habits part of your daily life is crucial for prevention.”

Heart disease symptoms for women

Symptoms may include common signs like pressure in the chest, which is similar for both men and women. However, women are more likely than men to experience a variety of other symptoms. This may be because women tend to have blockages in smaller arteries, as well as their main arteries. This is a condition called small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.

Symptoms include:

Pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, abdomen or back
Nausea
Vomiting
Sweating
Lightheadedness
Unusual fatigue

You may not experience any symptoms if your heart disease is “silent.” This could mean you may not be diagnosed until you experience more severe symptoms, such as:

Heart attack
Arrhythmia
Heart failure

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 right away.

Help lower your risks of heart disease

While there may be risk factors you can’t control, a heart-healthy lifestyle is one way to help make an impact. In fact, studies show that healthy choices have resulted in 330 fewer women dying from heart disease per day.

Consider these changes to help lower your risk:

1. Quit smoking

Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, which may cause heart disease. Even long-time smokers may see rapid health improvements and reduce their heart attack risk, if they quit.

2. Exercise regularly

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends adults get at least 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes each week of vigorous aerobic activity. You should consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

3. Eat healthier

A diet emphasizing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and nuts may help control your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. Limit saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, sweets and sugary beverages.

4. Manage your stress

The most common types of stress that can impact your heart include, workplace stress, financial stress, caregiver stress and disaster-related stress. Sleep, exercise and meditative breathing can all help ease stress.

5. Limit alcohol

The AHA recommends that if you drink alcohol at all, it should be in moderation, which means consuming an average of at most one drink per day for women. Excessive drinking may lead to increased heart health risks.

6. Monitor your blood pressure

Blood pressure numbers of less than 120/80 mm Hg are considered within the normal range. If your numbers are outside of the normal range, home blood pressure monitoring may be beneficial to help keep tabs on your health, but don’t substitute it for regular visits with your doctor.

7. Manage your blood sugar and lower cholesterol

Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. High levels of cholesterol can also increase your risk of heart disease through the development of fatty deposits in your blood vessels.

One more thing

Take the time to understand heart disease, your family history and whether you may be at increased risk. Heart disease doesn’t just occur in older women. Young women, especially those with a family history of heart disease, should also take precautions. Don’t wait for the symptoms to appear – take preventable action to help maintain your heart health.

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