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Gender disparities are part of the reason that the risk of heart disease is greater for women than men. Getty Images

• In the United States, heart disease is the number one cause of death for women.
• Women are more than 30% slower than men in getting to the hospital when they first experience symptoms of a cardiac arrest.
• After a heart attack, women are 50% more likely to receive the wrong diagnosis.
• Heart diseases can be prevented 80 percent of the time.

The American Heart Association (AHA), despite stating that one in three women will die from heart disease and that heart disease is increasing among women younger than 55 years old, still has many disparities regarding how women receive preventive care and seek treatment.

Women wait more than 30% longer to reach a hospital when they first experience symptoms of a cardiac arrest. Women are 50% more likely than men to have their heart attack misdiagnosed.

Heart disease is the No.1 killer of both men and women in this country. "I want all women who are at risk to know they should keep an eye on their heart health if they wish to remain active and live long lives." But the most important thing is to realize that heart disease can be prevented in 80 percent of cases," said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, a preventive cardiologist and the national spokesperson for AHA. She spoke to Healthline. What causes these gender differences? Experts believe that they are caused by several factors.

1. Lack of awareness

Dr. Elsa-Grace Giardina, director of the Centre for Women's Health in the Division of Cardiology at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Centre, says less than 60 percent of women recognise that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.

"This statistic has improved in the past two decades but is still not where it should be. We must educate the public better. Even women who have had a cardiac arrest are more likely than not to believe that they will die of some form of cancer, not heart disease. This is especially true for breast cancer.

Steinbaum is in agreement, noting the AHA's efforts to spread the word about prevention. However, they need to do even more.

Steinbaum said that, as often as women say they are going to get their mammograms, I hope all women go for annual heart checks. This will help us prevent the disease from claiming so many lives and the vitality of women.

2. Men and women have different symptoms.

Giardina claims that women may experience subtler signs of heart disease. While both men and women often complain of chest pain in the middle, under the sternum,

Giardina said that if patients present with vague symptoms, the doctor may not recognise that these symptoms are related to heart disease. "Oftentimes, their symptoms may be misunderstood as being related to gastrointestinal conditions."

The following are some of the subtle signs that women may experience:

• Shortness of breath
• nausea
• vomiting
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• Back pain
• Sweating
• jaw pain

When you do not recognise the symptoms of a cardiac episode, you may not get to an emergency room on time. This can lead to more damage to the heart muscles. Giardina said that if you do not get the right treatment immediately, your heart muscle will be permanently scarred. You are more likely to develop heart failure, arrhythmias, or recurring events.

3. Women in the sciences: a lack of females

Giardina submitted a proposal in the 1980s to the National Institutes of Health to study cardiovascular disease among both men and women. She still remembers that her proposal was rejected and the criticism she received from two of the three reviewers, who asked, "Why are there so many women in this study?Everyone knows that men are at greater risk for heart disease. She says that today, more women are being included in research and studies.

Giardina explained that, in the past, heart disease was considered a male disease, even though data did not support that. There were as many women who died from heart disease as men, yet research was focused more on men's outcomes. Steinbaum says that women are still lagging behind in terms of research.

It wasn't till 1993 that the NIH issued a statement stating that women should be included in trials just as much as men. It's fascinating that we're now in the 2000s and this didn't happen, nor did the research improve as much.

In the last 15 years, women's research has finally begun to be equal. Steinbaum announced, "The American Heart Association is currently educating women about their heart disease risk while providing funding to science and research.

4. Unconscious bias

Giardina, as well as Steinbaum, both point out that unconscious bias may be a factor in gender disparities. However, it is difficult to identify and discuss.

"We know there is a widespread unspoken bias, whether it's due to the fact that heart disease has never been considered a woman's problem for so long, or the way women present themselves, or [because] of the idea that if your heart looks good, then it probably won't have any problems. She said, "We don't have a definitive answer to this."

What can women do?

Men and women are at an increased risk of heart disease if they have a family history. Both genders should practice the same healthy lifestyle habits, which include:

• Smoking is not allowed.
• Drinking in moderation is important since excessive alcohol consumption can cause blood pressure to increase.
• Exercise is recommended for women, with 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
• Maintaining a Moderate Weight
• Sleeping 7 hours a night is ideal for getting enough sleep.

Steinbaum also adds that women are more likely to suffer from depression, which increases their risk of heart disease.

Steinbaum said, "We understand that the brain-heart connection affects women's hearts more than men's."

Giardina also says that research shows women with abnormalities like systemic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which are associated with chronic inflammation, could be at greater risk for heart disease. This includes women with hypertension and gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

If you have hypertension or had gestational diabetes while pregnant, your risk of developing coronary heart disease is higher in later life. Your children are also at greater risk.

She says that while it is not clear why women are at a higher risk for coronary heart disease, it could be due to changes in the arteries of the coronary system or the endocrine systems that predispose women to the condition. One theory is that these conditions alter the arterial wall, causing endothelial malfunction.

It may be that young women with a predisposition to gestational anomalies have different endothelial functioning that could alert them to future negative outcomes in cardiovascular disease. Giardina says that one day we will find out. Steinbaum advises that you should make an appointment with your doctor.

It is important to visit your doctor for a check-up so that you can be screened for heart disease markers. She said prevention begins with a visit. Steinbaum advises that if you have already had a cardiac episode, you should not focus on your guilt but instead consider what you can change to become healthier.

"I think we often use the term survivor when referring to breast cancer." With heart disease, many women feel guilty about doing this to themselves,", she said. We're not all perfect. "Build a relationship [with your doctor], advocate for yourself, and make lifestyle changes."

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