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Women and men in the U.S. have an unnerving statistic in common: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. But the causes — and effects — of heart disease appear differently in men and women. There's a big connection between levels of stress and heart disease, and women seem to be more vulnerable compared to men.
Here's a brief overview as to why stress can increase the risk of heart disease in women, and what women can do to get their stress levels in check.
How Stress Affects Women's Hearts
Women in the U.S. are consistently more likely to report higher levels of stress than men, according to the American Psychological Association's "Stress in America" survey. On a scale of 1 to 10, women rated their stress levels at a 5.0 versus a male average of 4.6 in 2016. And according to the American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement published by Circulation, when women are exposed stressors, they are at a significantly higher risk of heart attacks than men in a similar situation.
Long-term stress increases exposure to the stress hormone cortisol and increases the risk of heart disease in women over time, according to the Mayo Clinic.
When these risk factors lead to heart attack in women, the symptoms can manifest differently than in men. Although both sexes often report chest pain as a symptom during a heart attack, women are more likely to report other symptoms, such as dizziness, weakness or anxiety.
3 Tips to Tackle Stress
Always consult your doctor if you're feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty managing your stress. Here are three daily activities to help you:
These are just a few ways you can reduce stress and chance of heart disease, but at the end of the day, you need to find what works best for you and your heart.