Women and heart attacks: prevention, diagnosis, and care

Despite being viewed as a male health problem, more women die from heart disease than men. The literature and preliminary research data reviewed clearly support that gender differences exist. The higher prevalence of myocardial infarction in older women and those with other known risk factors suggests the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment is the same as for men. Differences in socioeconomic status, psychosocial profiles, presenting symptoms, disease progression, and a poorer response to treatment suggests that myocardial infarction in women is not fully understood. Women need to know they are at risk and not delay seeking treatment for subtle but important symptoms. Assessment strategies that take into account the woman's body, personal profile, and the female pattern of variant angina, non-Q wave, nonocclusive infarction are reviewed. Considering the literature that links social support with survival, mobilizing support to help the women direct energies to her own recovery becomes a necessary intervention. Implications to health teaching, diagnostic testing, diagnosis, referral, and the effective management of women with myocardial infarction are delineated.