Health
How Heart Failure Differs in Women
Health Points
- Women are more likely to develop heart failure after menopause, with risk increasing as they age.
- Female-specific risk factors for heart failure include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, pregnancy, and certain cancer treatments.
- Sacubitril-valsartan may offer added benefit for women with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Heart failure impacts both men and women, but women often experience a different type, with unique risks and symptoms that intensify after menopause.
According to the American College of Cardiology, factors like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure can have a greater negative impact on women compared to men.
“There’s a myth that heart failure is a disease of men, but that’s definitely not true,” says Dr. Emily Lau, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
Nearly 7.4 million American adults live with heart failure, but rates rise sharply for women over 80, narrowing the difference between men and women.
Women are more likely to have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where the heart pumps well but its chambers become stiff, while men often have reduced ejection fraction where heart muscle weakness is the main problem.
Typical symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling, fatigue, and waking breathless at night. Dizziness and needing extra pillows to sleep can also be signs.
“If you notice things like climbing stairs now leave you winded or fatigued, that’s a sign you should be evaluated further,” advises Dr. Lau.
Certain factors, like pregnancy or breast cancer treatments, can make women more vulnerable to heart failure. Women with diabetes have five times the risk, compared to double the risk for men.
Women also tend to experience more inflammation in heart blood vessels, affecting heart health even without blocked arteries.
Spotting symptoms early makes timely treatment possible, which can help manage and potentially prevent complications.
Most heart failure treatments are the same for both genders, but the medication sacubitril-valsartan (Entresto) may be especially effective for women with HFpEF who haven’t responded to other therapies.
Always consult your healthcare provider if you notice new or unexplained changes in your heart health, especially if you have risk factors.
