Women’s Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease, characterized by blockages in blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood, accounts for 1 in 3 deaths of women each year in the United States. This disease is often associated with men despite these numbers; perhaps because women often experience it 10 years after their male counterparts.

Symptoms and risk factors of coronary artery disease are often different in women than in men. Your Women’s Heart Wellness Program doctor is particularly attuned to these differences and identifying coronary artery disease when it’s most treatable and least disruptive to your health.


What is Coronary Artery Disease?

CAD, as this disease is often called, is the most common type of heart disease. If you have coronary artery disease, it’s likely the arteries that transport blood to your heart muscle have stiffened and narrowed after accumulating plaque buildup on their walls. This condition, atherosclerosis, slows the flow of blood to the heart.


What’s Different About Coronary Artery Disease in Women?

Here are a few differences:

Coronary Arteries

Women’s coronary arteries are smaller than men’s, complicating medical imaging (angiography and stress testing), procedures to treat CAD (angioplasty) and cases requiring surgery (coronary bypass).

Cholesterol Levels

Women develop CAD about 10 years later than men, perhaps related to menopause. Before menopause, estrogen increases a woman’s HDL (good) cholesterol and decreases her LDL (bad) cholesterol – diminishing chances of heart disease. Post-menopause, women typically have higher levels of cholesterol. A combination of low HDL and high LDL can contribute to a higher risk of coronary artery disease.

Diabetes

A woman with diabetes has a greater risk of heart disease than a man with diabetes. Women with diabetes can also have hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity – all increasing their risk of heart disease. Diabetes also can alter the way women experience pain, increasing the odds of having a heart attack that doesn’t show typical symptoms.

Mental Health: Stress and Depression

A women’s heart, more than a man’s, is affected by stress and depression.

Smoking

Smoking increases women’s risk of coronary artery disease more than it does men’s risk.


Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease in Women

Women with coronary artery disease often don’t know it. Many don’t even know when they’re having a heart attack.

Here are some signs of heart disease:

Angina:

Chest discomfort caused by lack of oxygen caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. You might feel pressure or tightness, a squeezing or maybe a sensation of heaviness. Physical exertion, extreme temperatures, stress, alcohol or smoking can contribute to an episode of angina. Learn More >>

Arrhythmias:

An irregular or rapid heartbeat. You might feel shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness or chest pain. Learn More >>

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke:

A TIA, often called a mini-stroke, is temporary restriction of blood supplied to the brain. Neurological symptoms – numbness on one side of your face, arm or leg or trouble seeing, talking or walking – last less than 24 hours. If symptoms last longer, you’re having a stroke. If you are having symptoms of a TIA or stroke, it is important that you act fast and call 911 for immediate medical help.
Learn more>>


Diagnosis & Treatment

Women’s Heart Wellness Program

The goal of the Women’s Heart Wellness Program is to provide comprehensive, personalized and compassionate care to women at risk for, and those living with heart disease.

Providers & Locations


Meet our Coronary Artery Disease Specialists

Name Specialties Location
McAree, Patrick C., PA-C McAree, Patrick C., PA-C
4.7 /5
123 surveys
860.456.2898
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Willimantic
Sheth, Tejas V., MD, FACR, RhMSUS Sheth, Tejas V., MD, FACR, RhMSUS
4.8 /5
278 surveys
860.524.2610
  • Rheumatology
  • Hartford
  • Plainville
Show Less
Palkar, Atul, MD, FACP Palkar, Atul, MD, FACP 860.886.1862
  • Pulmonary Disease
  • Norwich
Bao, Shanshan, MD Bao, Shanshan, MD 860.289.3375
  • Pediatric Radiology
  • Hartford
Bleich, Steven, MD Bleich, Steven, MD 860.522.0604
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Glastonbury
Padegimas, Allison Seinmetz, MD, FACC Padegimas, Allison Seinmetz, MD, FACC 203.265.9831
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Wallingford
  • Cheshire
  • West Hartford
Show Less
Pahlawanian, Anahid Maria, DO Pahlawanian, Anahid Maria, DO 860.246.6589
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • East Hartford
Pousatis, Sheelagh, MD Pousatis, Sheelagh, MD
4.9 /5
82 surveys
860.696.5520
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Hartford
Richardson, Elizabeth Ann, DO Richardson, Elizabeth Ann, DO 860.972.4262
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hartford
  • Hartford
  • Bridgeport
Show Less
Kapur, Sakshi, MD Kapur, Sakshi, MD 860.258.3480
  • Hematology / Oncology
  • Wethersfield
Mitchell, Caitlyn Ashley, OD Mitchell, Caitlyn Ashley, OD 203.574.2020
  • Optometry
  • Waterbury
Shulman, Brandon, MD Shulman, Brandon, MD 203.845.2200
  • Hand Surgery
  • Norwalk
  • Westport
Show Less
Shafqat, Mohammad Shuja, MD Shafqat, Mohammad Shuja, MD 800.633.8446
  • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Roslyn Heights
Gardner, Tina Marie, MD Gardner, Tina Marie, MD 860.380.5150
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Canaan
  • Torrington
Show Less
Abavana, Christina, MD Abavana, Christina, MD
4.8 /5
139 surveys
203.254.2320
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Fairfield
  • Milford
Show Less
Prioreschi, Brandon E., MD Prioreschi, Brandon E., MD 860.986.7326
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Middletown
  • Marlborough
  • Westbrook
  • Newington
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Avraham, Tomer, MD Avraham, Tomer, MD 860.390.6000
  • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Old Lyme
Chirunomula, Latha Swarna, MD Chirunomula, Latha Swarna, MD 203.931.0034
  • Internal Medicine
  • West Haven
Duckworth, April Marie, MD Duckworth, April Marie, MD
4.9 /5
303 surveys
860.224.5416
  • Breast Surgery
  • Plainville
  • Manchester
Show Less
Carroll, Lenore Ann, APRN Carroll, Lenore Ann, APRN
4.8 /5
187 surveys
860.636.2010
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Middletown
  • Old Saybrook
Show Less
Daoud, Vladimir Paul, MD Daoud, Vladimir Paul, MD 860.246.2071
  • General Surgery
  • Bloomfield
  • Avon
  • West Hartford
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Upadhyay, Ashish, MD Upadhyay, Ashish, MD 475.337.7463
  • Spine Surgery
  • Bristol
Chen, Tiffany T., MD Chen, Tiffany T., MD 203.777.7500
  • Otolaryngology
  • New Haven
Glomski, Shahar, MD Glomski, Shahar, MD 203.694.8402
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Meriden
Stockton, Robert C., DO Stockton, Robert C., DO 203.265.3280
  • Spine Surgery
  • Wallingford
  • Meriden
  • Cheshire
  • Southington
Show Less

Women’s Heart Wellness