Why women’s heart health needs urgent attention in India; follow these preventive measures

How to keep heart healthy: Poor cardiovascular health affects women more severely, raising their chances of heart disease faster than it does for men (Image: Pexels)

• Heart problems in Indian women are rising, often appearing earlier than expected
• Broken Heart Syndrome and Takayasu’s disease are more common in women.
• Early screening, symptom recognition, and prevention reduce heart disease risk.

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Women’s health needs more attention than ever, as statistics show that many are developing heart problems earlier than expected and reach hospitals only after symptoms have lingered for too long. It is not a sudden shift but a slow build up that has become difficult to set aside.

India is still among the countries where deaths from chronic diseases are climbing instead of falling. For women, the rise has been stronger, mainly due to ischaemic heart disease and a steady push from metabolic conditions. Women are living longer lives, but those added years now fall in a period when cardiovascular strain is already higher. What doctors are seeing today looks different from earlier years.

Says Dr Vikas Kohli, Senior Paediatric Cardiologist and Founder of Child Heart Foundation, “Poor cardiovascular health affects women more severely, raising their chances of heart disease faster than it does for men. A few conditions also tend to show up more often in women.”

Also read | Heart attack symptoms in women aren’t limited to chest pain, NHS doctor explains

These include:

Broken Heart Syndrome, usually following sudden emotional or physical stress, weakens the heart muscle without warning.

Takayasu’s disease, which inflames large blood vessels, is also more frequent in young women and can lead to serious complications.

Postpartum cardiomyopathy, where the heart weakens after childbirth, is now reported more often among older mothers.

According to Dr Kohli, “Heart attacks, once thought rare in younger women, are appearing almost a decade earlier than in Western countries. One in five Indian women between fifteen and forty-nine has untreated hypertension, often alongside diabetes or obesity. After menopause, shifts in hormones add to long term vulnerability.”

Diagnosis remains uneven. “Fatigue, nausea or breathlessness often mask the real problem, and jaw or back discomfort is easy to misread. Urban living, diet shifts and long exposure to polluted air add their own weight, and cleaner air has shown clear links to reduced heart and metabolic disease,” he adds.

Also read | Just 35 minutes of daily exercise can cut women’s heart disease risk by 30%; men need double, says study

How to prevent heart diseases

What can help? Dr Kohli says, “Earlier screening, better recognition of symptoms and steady prevention are needed if India hopes to slow this rising burden. This means routine blood pressure and sugar checks starting at younger ages. It also calls for clearer clinical guidelines for diagnosing heart disease in women and stronger follow-up after pregnancy and menopause.”

He adds, “Workplace and community programmes should promote physical activity and stress management, while access to affordable cardiac care must expand. Sustained efforts to improve air quality and nutrition awareness are equally important. Without these steps, many women will continue to enter treatment late, when damage is already difficult to reverse.”

FAQs on Heart Health in Women

1. What are the common heart health issues specific to women?

Common heart health issues in women include Broken Heart Syndrome, Takayasu’s disease, and Postpartum cardiomyopathy. These conditions often present uniquely in women and can lead to serious complications if not diagnosed and treated early.

2. Why are heart attacks appearing earlier in Indian women?

Heart attacks are appearing earlier in Indian women due to untreated hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hormonal shifts post-menopause. Urban living and diet changes also contribute to the increased risk.

3. How can women prevent heart diseases?

Women can prevent heart diseases through early screening, regular blood pressure and sugar checks, recognizing symptoms early, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with physical activity and stress management.

4. What symptoms of heart disease are often misinterpreted in women?

Symptoms like fatigue, nausea, breathlessness, and jaw or back discomfort are often misinterpreted in women, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

5. Why is improving air quality important for heart health in women?

Improving air quality is crucial as long exposure to polluted air increases the risk of heart and metabolic diseases. Cleaner air has shown clear links to reduced heart disease rates.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.