A person does not always feel chest pain during a heart attack.
An expert said that women should begin screening for heart disease as early as age 20.
Although heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide, it is often overlooked. Early detection of cardiovascular risks can save a woman, with heart disease, which is why they should begin health screening sooner rather than later.
The most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pressure, pain, or discomfort that lasts for a prolonged period or comes and goes. However, in women, chest pain may not always be the most obvious or severe symptom. Women often describe the sensation of a heart attack as tightness or pressure in the chest. Moreover, one does not always feel chest pain during a heart attack.
Dr Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant in Cardiothoracic and Heart and Lung Transplant Surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, advised that women should begin screening for heart disease as early as age 20, particularly if they have known risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of early heart disease. Starting early allows healthcare professionals to monitor potential risk factors and take action if necessary, according to a report in the Indian Express.
Dr Deepankar Vatsa, Senior Consultant in Cardiology at Yatharth Hospitals, also stressed the importance of early screening, especially for women with risk factors like obesity, metabolic syndrome, or a family history of early heart disease. He added that women should undergo yearly examinations after the age of 40, as symptoms of cardiovascular disease in younger women may be subtler and could lead to delayed diagnoses.
Benefits of Early Screening for Heart Health
- Starting heart disease screenings in your 20s can help detect hidden risk factors that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels (dyslipidemia) and insulin resistance.
- Many early warning signs of heart disease are asymptomatic, but early detection allows for more aggressive intervention, especially in women with genetic predispositions like familial hypercholesterolemia.
- Screening from the age of 20 offers women the best chance to prevent heart disease through early intervention, as it helps identify silent conditions like high cholesterol or hypertension.
- Regular monitoring, lifestyle changes and personalised treatments based on individual risk profiles are key to maintaining heart health throughout life.
