{"id":2469,"date":"2025-12-03T21:04:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T03:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2025-12-03T21:05:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T03:05:01","slug":"infarction-in-women-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/blog\/special-populations\/infarction-in-women-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Women and the heart: signs of heart attack and prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For years, heart attack was thought of as a \u201cman's\u201d problem. Today we know that the <strong>heart attack in women<\/strong> is common, is often diagnosed late and often presents with less clear symptoms than classic oppressive chest pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide you will see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What a difference to infarction in women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the <strong>typical and atypical symptoms<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who is most at risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What you can do to <strong>prevent<\/strong> and when to go to the emergency room without hesitation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This text is informative and does not replace an individual medical assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What differentiates infarction in women<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some key points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heart attacks in women usually occur in the following <strong>at somewhat older ages<\/strong> than in men, but it also occurs in young women when there are important risk factors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is more frequent that there are <strong>several diseases at the same time<\/strong>Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are entities more common in women (e.g., <strong>spontaneous coronary artery dissection<\/strong> o <strong>stress cardiomyopathy<\/strong>) that can cause pictures very similar to a heart attack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Symptoms may include <strong>less \u201cspectacular\u201d<\/strong> than severe oppressive pain, leading to delays in consultation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Result: many women underestimate their symptoms or attribute them to \u201cgastritis\u201d, \u201cstress\u201d or \u201cfatigue\u201d until the condition is more severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of infarction in women: typical and atypical<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cclassic\u201d symptoms of infarction can also appear in women:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Intense pain or tightness in the center of the chest, which may radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw or back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeling of weight or \u201ccrushing\u201d in the chest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant shortness of breath.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cold sweating, nausea, intense general malaise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, in women, the most frequent are <strong>atypical presentations<\/strong>, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain in <strong>upper back, jaw or neck<\/strong> more than in the chest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chest discomfort that is less intense, but persistent or accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea or dizziness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sudden extreme fatigue (\u201cI felt completely exhausted for no reason\u201d).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shortness of breath on usual exertion (climbing one or two floors, walking short distances).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeling of <strong>indigestion<\/strong> or discomfort in the \u201cpit of the stomach\u201d, with nausea or cold sweat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have risk factors and you notice any of these signs, it is preferable to assume that <strong>it can be the heart<\/strong> until proven otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Risk factors for myocardial infarction in women<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They share many factors with men, but some have particular weight in women:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arterial hypertension<\/strong>, diagnosed or undiagnosed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diabetes<\/strong>, especially poorly controlled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High cholesterol<\/strong>, especially elevated LDL and high triglycerides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smoking<\/strong>, even in amounts that are perceived as \u201cfew\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Obesity<\/strong> and sedentary lifestyles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Family history of early heart disease (mother, sisters, brothers).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Autoimmune diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Problems during pregnancy (preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes) that increase future cardiovascular risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transition to <strong>menopause<\/strong> with weight gain, high blood pressure and cholesterol changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If several of these factors accumulate, it makes sense to assess the heart proactively with a <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/cardiac-checkup\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2027\">cardiological check-up<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to ask for a cardiological evaluation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is advisable to go beyond a \u201cgeneral check-up\u201d if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You have <strong>over 40-45 years old<\/strong> and several risk factors (hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity), even if you feel \u201cfine\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Notes <strong>chest discomfort, shortness of breath or disproportionate tiredness<\/strong> to the effort, even if you think it may be \u201cstress\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You had <strong>preeclampsia, eclampsia or gestational diabetes<\/strong> and then your cardiovascular risk was not reassessed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is a history of heart attacks or other cardiovascular events at early ages in your family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A targeted assessment includes a clinical history, physical examination, laboratory studies and tests such as <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/studies\/electrocardiogram-echocardiogram\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2060\">electrocardiogram (ECG)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/studies\/stress-test\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2064\">stress test<\/a> or echocardiogram, as appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical prevention for women's hearts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Prevention does not depend on a single action, but on several decisions sustained over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Blood pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check it regularly, not just \u201cwhen I feel bad\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In many women with risk factors, the aim is to keep it below <strong>130\/80 mmHg<\/strong>, if medically reasonable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there are variable or discordant figures between home and office, it can be complemented with studies such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/studies\/24h-pressure-map\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2068\">MAP 24 h<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cholesterol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Know your LDL, HDL and triglyceride numbers, not just \u201cit came out a little high\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In high-risk women (diabetes, coronary artery disease, previous infarction) the goals are usually stricter, as detailed in <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/blog\/diagnostic-evaluation\/ldl-cholesterol-diagnostic-evaluation-objectives\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2418\">LDL cholesterol: current targets and how to achieve them<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Glucose and weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early detection and treatment of <strong>prediabetes or diabetes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid progressive weight gains; even losing 5-10 % of initial weight can make a difference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Smoking cessation significantly reduces the risk of heart attack, especially in women with other risk factors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is no \u201csafe\u201d number of cigarettes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Physical activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At least <strong>150 minutes per week<\/strong> moderate aerobic exercise (brisk walking, cycling, swimming), adapted to your condition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have already had a heart attack or a coronary intervention, exercise should be integrated into a program of <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/cardiac-rehabilitation\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2029\">Cardiac rehabilitation<\/a>, as explained in <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/blog\/diagnostic-evaluation\/secondary-prevention-of-myocardial-infarction\/\">Secondary prevention after a heart attack: first 90 days<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stress and sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prolonged periods of <strong>intense stress and poor quality sleep<\/strong> have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is a component that needs to be explicitly addressed, as detailed in <a>Stress, sleep and heart health<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning signs: when to go to the emergency room<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to the emergency room immediately (without driving yourself) if you present:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain, pressure or discomfort in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes or recurring, with or without irradiation to the arm, neck, jaw or back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recent onset severe shortness of breath, especially if accompanied by sweating, nausea or dizziness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upper abdominal or back pain with general malaise, nausea or cold sweat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fainting, feeling faint or marked weakness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you are not sure if \u201cit's the heart\u201d, in the context of risk factors, it is preferable to have a <strong>urgent assessment<\/strong> to stay at home waiting for it to go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What a comprehensive heart care strategy looks like for women<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In practical terms, a good plan usually includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Know your <strong>key numbers<\/strong>blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have a <strong>baseline cardiological assessment<\/strong> when there are risk factors or family history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain <strong>sustainable habits<\/strong> of nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be attentive to <strong>new symptoms<\/strong> and not normalize recurrent chest discomfort, shortness of breath or extreme tiredness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have already had a cardiac event, completing a cardiac <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/cardiac-rehabilitation\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2029\">Cardiac rehabilitation<\/a> and follow a plan of <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/blog\/diagnostic-evaluation\/secondary-prevention-of-myocardial-infarction\/\">secondary prevention<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you identify with several risk factors or have had compatible symptoms, you can use the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"215\">contact<\/a> to schedule an assessment and define a prevention plan tailored to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mehta L.S. et al. Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/CIR.0000000000000351\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/10.1161\/CIR.0000000000000351<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vogel B. et al. Sex differences in cardiovascular disease. <em>Nature Reviews Cardiology<\/em>.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41569-021-00588-0\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41569-021-00588-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41569-021-00588-0<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/eurheartj\/article\/42\/34\/3227\/6358710\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/eurheartj\/article\/42\/34\/3227\/6358710\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/eurheartj\/article\/42\/34\/3227\/6358710<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Durante a\u00f1os se pens\u00f3 en el infarto como un problema \u201cde hombres\u201d. Hoy sabemos que el infarto en mujeres es frecuente, a menudo se diagnostica tarde y muchas veces se presenta con s\u00edntomas menos claros que el dolor opresivo cl\u00e1sico en el pecho. En esta gu\u00eda ver\u00e1s: Este texto es informativo y no sustituye una [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poblaciones-especiales"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drakarlacastolo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}