Heart disease is often thought of as a “men’s health issue,” but the reality is very different. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women in Canada, and yet, women are still more likely to have their symptoms missed, dismissed, or misunderstood.
One of the biggest reasons? Heart symptoms in women don’t always look the way we expect.
This blog is here to help you understand why women’s heart symptoms can look different, what to watch for, and when it’s time to get checked. This information is especially important during Heart Month and Wear Red Day, but it matters year-round.
Why Heart Symptoms Can Look Different in Women
Heart disease doesn’t show up the same way in everyone. In women, differences in hormones, blood vessels, and heart structure can change how symptoms appear, and how early they’re detected.
Some key reasons include:
- Smaller coronary blood vessels, which can lead to microvascular disease
- Hormonal changes, especially during menopause
- Different plaque patterns, which may not show up on standard imaging
- Greater overlap with stress, anxiety, and fatigue symptoms
Because of this, women are less likely to experience sudden, crushing chest pain and more likely to experience subtle, gradual symptoms that are easy to overlook.
Related: Cold Weather & Chest Pain: What Albertans Should Know About Heart Health
Heart Symptoms Women Often Miss or Dismiss
Many women delay seeking care because their symptoms don’t feel “serious enough.” But these signs can still point to an underlying heart issue.
Common heart symptoms in women include:
- Unusual or extreme fatigue
- Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
- Sudden drop in energy without a clear reason
- Shortness of breath
- During everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs
- Feeling winded more easily than before
- Chest discomfort
- Pressure, tightness, burning, or fullness
- Not always sharp or painful
- Jaw, neck, shoulder, or upper back pain
- Especially if it comes on with exertion or stress
- Nausea or indigestion
- Often mistaken for stomach issues
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Sleep problems
- Waking up short of breath
- Unrefreshing sleep
These symptoms may come and go, worsen in cold weather, or flare during periods of stress, which is why they’re often blamed on anxiety, aging, or being “run down.”
Read More: Healthy Workplace Month: 7 Tips to Reduce Stress
When Symptoms Are More Than Stress or Fatigue
Stress and anxiety can absolutely affect the body, including breathing and heart rate. But persistent physical symptoms should never be written off without proper evaluation.
It may be time to look deeper if your symptoms:
- Appear during physical activity or cold exposure
- Don’t improve with rest or stress reduction
- Are new, different, or worsening
- Interfere with daily life
- Occur alongside shortness of breath or chest discomfort
- Run in your family history
Women are more likely to delay care, sometimes because they don’t want to “overreact.” In reality, early evaluation is one of the most important steps in protecting long-term heart health.
Heart Disease Risk Factors Women Should Know About
Some heart disease risk factors are well known, while others affect women more specifically.
Common risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking or vaping
- Sedentary lifestyle
Additional risk factors more common in women:
- Sleep apnea (often underdiagnosed in women)
- Pregnancy-related conditions (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia)
- Menopause and hormonal changes
- Chronic stress or caregiver burnout
- Autoimmune conditions
Sleep apnea, in particular, is frequently overlooked in women and can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, fatigue, and arrhythmias, which is why sleep testing plays an important role in cardiac care.
Request a Sleep Test from PulseAir
Keep Reading: World Sleep Day: The Role of Sleep in Overall Health
The Connection Between Heart and Lung Symptoms
The heart and lungs work as a team. When one system is under strain, the other often feels it.
Heart conditions can cause:
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid buildup in the lungs
- Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance
Lung conditions can:
- Increase strain on the heart
- Raise blood pressure
- Worsen existing heart disease
Because symptoms overlap, it’s not always obvious whether an issue is cardiac, respiratory, or both. That’s why a combined heart-and-lung evaluation can be so valuable, especially for women with unclear symptoms.
When to Book a Heart or Lung Assessment
You don’t need dramatic symptoms to justify getting checked. In fact, early assessment is often what prevents more serious problems later.
Consider booking an appointment if you’re experiencing:
- Ongoing fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Shortness of breath during routine activities
- Chest discomfort of any kind
- Symptoms that worsen in cold weather
- Poor sleep, snoring, or morning headaches
- A family history of heart disease
- A sense that something just doesn’t feel right
Trusting your instincts matters — you know your body best.
How PulseAir Supports Women’s Heart Health
At PulseAir Heart & Lung Centre, we focus on listening carefully, asking the right questions, and providing clear answers.
Our services include:
- Cardiology consultations and diagnostics
- Pulmonary function testing (PFTs)
- Sleep testing (at-home or in-lab)
- Respiratory assessments
- Integrated heart-lung evaluations
Our team works with women at every stage, whether you’re noticing early symptoms, managing an existing condition, or simply want peace of mind.
The Bottom Line
Heart symptoms in women don’t always follow a textbook pattern, and that’s exactly why awareness matters.
Fatigue, breathlessness, discomfort, or feeling “off” are not things you have to push through or ignore. Getting checked doesn’t mean something is wrong, it means you’re taking care of yourself.
During Heart Month, Wear Red Day, and beyond, make your heart health a priority. If something doesn’t feel right, PulseAir is here to help you get answers, and move forward with confidence.
Book a heart or lung consultation today.