The Gender Gap in Heart Disease Diagnosis
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States—yet many women are unaware they’re at risk. Even more troubling, many women are misdiagnosed when they show up in emergency rooms or primary care offices with symptoms that signal an impending heart attack. Why? Because the standard for recognizing, diagnosing, and treating cardiovascular disease has long been centered around men.
This disconnect has created a persistent and dangerous gender gap in heart disease diagnosis—one that puts women’s lives at risk. At Ms.Medicine, we believe this is unacceptable. Through education, advocacy, and comprehensive prevention tools like our Cardiovascular Risk Assessment, we’re working to close that gap and ensure that women’s heart health is taken seriously.
Why Women’s Symptoms Often Get Missed
Much of what the public—and even healthcare professionals—know about heart disease comes from studies conducted primarily in men. As a result, the image of a “typical” heart attack often involves crushing chest pain, radiating arm pain, and sudden collapse. But that picture doesn’t always match what women experience.
Women’s cardiac symptoms are often more subtle, and therefore more easily overlooked or misattributed. While chest pain is still common, women are more likely to experience:
Shortness of breath
Fatigue (sometimes extreme and sudden)
Nausea or indigestion
Jaw, neck, or upper back pain
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Anxiety or a sense of doom
Sleep disturbances in the days or weeks leading up to an event
These symptoms can be mistaken for anxiety, acid reflux, or even menopause. Some women have described being sent home from the ER after having a heart attack, told their symptoms were “stress-related.” Others wait too long to seek help because their experience doesn’t match what they’ve seen portrayed as a heart attack.
The result? Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, and more likely to die within a year of a heart attack compared to men.
The Role of Gender Bias in Healthcare
At the root of this issue is a broader problem: gender bias in healthcare. Studies show that women’s symptoms are more likely to be dismissed or minimized, particularly when they are vague, complex, or emotionally expressed. This is especially true in cases where physical symptoms overlap with stress, fatigue, or anxiety—all common in women, and all easily misunderstood.
This bias affects more than just emergency care. It influences:
How seriously symptoms are taken in primary care
The likelihood of being referred to a specialist
Access to advanced testing
Timeliness of diagnosis
Decisions about medication and treatment plans
For women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with chronic conditions, the risk of being ignored or misdiagnosed is even greater.
Closing the gender gap in heart care starts with recognizing that women are not just smaller versions of men. Their physiology, hormones, and life experiences all play a role in how disease presents—and how it should be treated.
Understanding Risk Through a Gender-Specific Lens
Heart disease in women can begin silently, long before symptoms appear. That’s why early detection and proactive risk assessments are key.
At Ms.Medicine, we offer a Cardiovascular Risk Assessment tailored specifically for women. Unlike standard screenings that may overlook key risk factors unique to women, our assessment includes:
Traditional markers like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and BMI
ASCVD risk scoring to predict the 10-year and 30-year likelihood of a heart attack or stroke
Detailed review of reproductive and hormonal health, including history of early menopause, pregnancy complications (such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes), and PCOS
Assessment of autoimmune diseases, which disproportionately affect women and increase cardiovascular risk
Consideration of lifestyle, family history, and emotional health
With this comprehensive picture, women can receive meaningful insight into their heart health—before a diagnosis, before a scare, and before it’s too late.
The Importance of Advocacy
Until the healthcare system fully catches up to the realities of women’s health, self-advocacy remains essential. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. If your concerns are dismissed, seek another opinion. You know your body better than anyone.
Here are a few tips to advocate for yourself or a loved one:
Track your symptoms, especially patterns or changes related to fatigue, sleep, pain, or breathing
Ask your provider directly if your symptoms could be related to your heart
Don’t hesitate to bring up family history—even if you’re young or seemingly “healthy”
Request a comprehensive heart risk evaluation that includes reproductive and hormonal history
If you go to the ER with symptoms, mention the possibility of a heart issue and request testing like an EKG, cardiac enzymes, or imaging
Better outcomes begin when women are empowered with the knowledge and tools to demand better care—and when providers are trained to recognize the full spectrum of what heart disease looks like in women.
Moving Forward with Prevention and Confidence
You don’t need to wait for symptoms to take control of your heart health. In fact, prevention is most powerful before warning signs ever appear. Whether you’ve experienced unexplained fatigue, are navigating menopause, or simply want to understand your risk, our Cardiovascular Risk Assessment can provide a clear starting point.
At Ms.Medicine, we take women’s heart health seriously. Our approach goes beyond generic screenings to look at the whole picture—your history, your hormones, your lifestyle, and your goals. With this information, we can build a care plan that helps you reduce your risk and feel confident about your health moving forward.
If you’re ready to get a better understanding of your heart health, schedule your Cardiovascular Risk Assessment today. It’s one of the most important steps you can take to protect your future.
