As part of Heart Awareness Month, cardiologists at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney are encouraging women to talk more openly about heart health, stressing that heart disease remains the number one killer of women in the United States.
According to a MedStar Health survey, men tend to be more concerned about heart health than women, and women are less likely to discuss heart related risks or symptoms with their doctors. Physicians say that gap in awareness can delay diagnosis and treatment, especially since heart disease often looks different in women.
Estelle Jean, MD, said women face unique risk factors throughout their lives that can increase their likelihood of developing heart disease. Early onset of menstruation, chronic stress and anxiety, and autoimmune conditions all play a role. She also noted that symptoms in women are often more subtle, making them easier to overlook…