Difference and Similarities between Heart Attack in Men and Women.

1. HEART
ATTACK: MEN
VS. WOMEN
Yousef T. Naeem, MD, MPH

2. Myocardial Risk: Men vs Women
• The INTERHEART study, a prediction model that included all
nine risk factors and regions explained
93.3% of acute MI in men <60 years and
88.6% of acute MI in women <60 years, a difference of 4.7%
• Anand et al. concluded that men had their first MI at a younger
age than women because younger men had higher risk factor
levels than younger women
European Heart Journal, Volume 29, Issue 7, April 2008, Pages 932–940, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehn018

3. • Nine risk factors was collected:
• Smoking,
• Self-reported hypertension
• Diabetes,
• Measured waist/hip ratio,
• Psychosocial factors (depression, locus of control, global stress,
financial stress, and life events including marital separation, job loss,
family conflict)
• Diet,
• Physical activity,
• Alcohol consumption, and
• Measured apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio
European Heart Journal, Volume 29, Issue 7, April 2008, Pages 932–940, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehn018

4. Which risk factors were responsible for
men having their first MI at a younger
age?
• Main contributors were the higher prevalence of lipid
abnormalities and smoking in younger men
• Hypertension, diabetes, psychosocial factors and lack of
physical activity were more potent risk factors for acute MI in
women than in men
European Heart Journal, Volume 29, Issue 7, April 2008, Pages 932–940, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehn018

5. Preventive Measures
• For men, the emphasis should be on smoking cessation and
improvement in lipid abnormalities, but other risk factors should
not be neglected.
• For women, hypertension and diabetes may need to be treated
more aggressively. There should be greater attention to
increased physical activity as a strategy to prevent diabetes.
European Heart Journal, Volume 29, Issue 7, April 2008, Pages 932–940, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehn018

6. MEN
• Heart disease is one of the leading health risks facing men today.
• Many men are at high risk for developing heart disease due to
• Only a quarter of the men in the US meet the federal guidelines
for physical activity.
• As of 2015, approximately 34% of American men are obese.
• 20 percent of men smoke, which can cause the blood vessels to
narrow. Narrowed blood vessels are a precursor to certain types
of heart disease.
• Other risk factors include a diet high in saturated fat, alcohol
abuse or excessive drinking, high cholesterol, diabetes and high
blood pressure (hypertension)
https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/

7. Heart Attack Signs in Men
Chest discomfort.
• Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that
lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
• It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,
neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or feeling
lightheaded
https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/

8. WOMEN
• Women with heart disease may have different symptoms
than men and tend to have heart attacks later in life.
• Symptoms of heart disease in women might be attributed
to existing conditions, like arthritis or diabetes.
• Such problems as high blood pressure, high cholesterol
and diabetes may make surgery a riskier proposition for
them.
https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/

9. Heart Attack Signs in Women
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or an
uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest.
• It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other common symptoms in women include
• breaking out in a cold sweat,
• nausea/vomiting, or feeling lightheaded,
• palpitations;
• sleep disturbances and unexplained fatigue.
https://theheartfoundation.org/2017/03/29/heart-attack-men-vs-women/