What to know about women’s heart disease and heart health
October 27, 2026By: Trevin Lambert
Categories: Heart Care, Women's Care
Key takeaways:
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. In the U.S., it kills about 1 in 3 women, surpassing all cancers combined.
- Women’s heart health requires a specialized approach, greater awareness of nontraditional symptoms and proactive prevention.
- Prevention starts with knowing your numbers and understanding life-stage risks.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. While women are more likely to die from heart disease than men, many women still don't recognize their risk or know that heart disease can look different in women than it does in men.
In a recent conversation on the NKC Health Care Empowered podcast, Rajya Malay, MD, and Heath Wilt, DO, cardiologists with NKC Health Heart Care, discussed why women's cardiovascular health requires a different approach — and why closing the knowledge gap could save lives.
Watch the full interview
Their message is clear: Women shouldn't wait for something to feel seriously wrong before paying attention to their heart health.
Heart disease doesn’t always look the same for women
For decades, much of what we knew about heart disease came from research focused primarily on men. Women have historically been underrepresented in heart disease research. This gap in women’s heart health has led to treatments not being fully optimized for women. But with today’s medical advancements, physicians are beginning to understand that women's cardiovascular health is more complex.
Risk factors don't always affect men and women in the same way. For example, when it comes to a heart attack, women experience different symptoms than men. While men often have classic chest pain, women may experience shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, jaw or back pain or palpitations.
"Women's cardiovascular health isn't simply a variation of what men experience," Dr. Malay said. "It's unique."
Heart disease is more than a heart attack
Heart attacks aren't the only cardiovascular concern women need to understand. Heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, and stroke are serious conditions. Some cardiovascular problems develop gradually, while others appear suddenly.
Despite often developing heart disease later in life, women face higher mortality rates once diagnosed. High blood pressure, for example, can lead to heart failure by quietly causing changes in the heart and blood vessels over time. That’s why regular monitoring can help identify changes early, which allows more opportunities to address them.
Unique risk factors for women
Women’s cardiovascular health is influenced by major hormonal and reproductive changes throughout life, including pregnancy and menopause.
For women who experience pregnancy, high blood pressure can be a common occurrence. Conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, the most common pregnancy-related condition, can signal an increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. Dr. Malay explained that women who experience preeclampsia can have a significantly higher long-term risk for high blood pressure, stroke and kidney disease.
Menopause brings another shift in cardiovascular health. It’s something every woman will go through, and while menopause itself doesn’t cause heart disease, it’s a period when risk factors rise.
As estrogen levels change, so can blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body composition and insulin resistance.
"None of these factors — things like elevated blood pressure or cholesterol cause any symptoms," Dr. Malay said. "So you may not even know unless you check for it."
In fact, high blood pressure is more common in women after menopause. The drop in estrogen levels reduces its protective effect on blood vessels, increasing hypertension risk. That makes regular preventive care especially important during and after menopause.
Stress affects heart health
Stress is another factor that can affect cardiovascular health, particularly when it contributes to other risk factors. It can make it harder to maintain healthy sleep, adequate nutrition, consistent activity and manage high blood pressure and diabetes.
The goal isn't necessarily to eliminate stress, as that may be impossible. Instead, understanding how stress affects overall health can help women identify areas where changes may be possible along with additional support.
Start by knowing your numbers
While genetics and age are factors women can't control, Dr. Malay emphasized that many cardiovascular risk factors can be addressed. Start by knowing your numbers, including:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Blood sugar
- Body mass index
Not sure how to learn your numbers? Consider attending one of NKC Health’s upcoming screenings.
Other lifestyle changes can prevent most heart attacks and strokes. Healthy eating and regular movement, such as walking for 10 minutes after each meal, can go a long way.
Women's heart health deserves a dedicated approach
For Dr. Malay and Dr. Wilt, closing the gap in women's heart health isn't simply a professional interest. It's a responsibility.
Despite decades of increased awareness and research, women continue to experience significant cardiovascular risks. These two physicians want to change that by helping women recognize their risks earlier and understand how cardiovascular health can change throughout life.
That is the goal behind the new women's program, NKC Health Heart Care for Women. This location provides specialized cardiovascular care that considers the unique factors women experience.
Women with a history of pregnancy complications, a strong family history of heart disease, unexplained symptoms or cardiovascular risk factors may benefit from a specialized evaluation.
Your heart health matters at every stage — and the earlier you pay attention, the more opportunities you have to protect it.
