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So regards to heart disease there can be some basic difference between men and women. First
of all, like a lot of times in life the classic symptoms are in common. In men we classically
describe he symptoms of heart disease as squeezing or burning substernal or below the chest pain.
Women may have their symptoms show up a little differently. Oftentimes its a vague sense
of discomfort in the chest when they exert themselves. Sometimes the symptoms can be
sharp. They're not always exertional and may often be associated with shortness of breath
as oppose to frank chest discomfort.
The way heart disease develops in women may also be different. Heart disease often comes
on later in life after menopause and can show up with more diffuse blocked arteries as opposed
to one single artery that has a major blockage. It is also very important for women to get
screen for heart disease. We know now, heart disease in women has been under recognized
and now we realize that just like for men its' a major concern.
Luckily screening is easy. You see your doctor and he or she will do some basic test to help
screen you. It is also important for women to control the major risk factors for heart
disease. That would be high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise and smoking.
We used to think that certain hormones would help protect women against heart disease,
like estrogen. We now know that this is not entirely the case and women can develop heart
disease even before menopause occurs. So it is very important that like in men we recognize
the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women and treat them aggressively.