How gender bias in medicine delays diagnosis of heart disease and chronic illness

Doctors warn that women’s “atypical” heart attack symptoms — fatigue, nausea, jaw pain — are too often dismissed, leading to deadly delays. (Image: Pexels)

Heart disease and chronic illnesses often wear different faces in women, subtle, vague, and easily overlooked. Yet, these atypical symptoms lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, putting women’s lives at risk. In India and worldwide, this gender health gap means far too many women suffer unnecessarily or lose their lives prematurely. Experts say it’s time to listen more carefully and act swiftly.

Women don’t always experience classic symptoms, Dr R. R. Kasliwal, Chairman,  Clinical and Preventive Cardiology,  Medanta, Gurugram, told Moneycontrol. “Chest pain may be absent in women suffering heart attacks. Instead, they report fatigue, nausea or even jaw pain, signs that don’t fit the descriptions doctors learned.” This mismatch is compounded by decades of clinical research focused predominantly on men, leaving women’s symptom patterns under-represented and poorly understood.

Also Read: World Heart Day 2025: Why women do not pay attention to their heart attacks?

Social attitudes and medical stereotypes further widen this gap. “Many women’s complaints are attributed to stress or hormonal changes, leading to dismissal or delay,” Dr Kasliwal adds. Moreover, women themselves often downplay symptoms or hesitate to seek help, which only worsens outcomes.

Atypical symptoms: Dr Kasliwal shares the hidden signals in women’s chronic illnesses.

Heart disease symptoms in women often include:

• Dizziness
• Jaw pain
• Back pain
• Rather than the classic crushing chest pain seen in men

Stroke symptoms in women can be:

• Disorientation
• Shortness of breath
• Hiccups
• Unlike men, who more commonly show sudden paralysis or slurred speech

• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Abdominal discomfort
• Symptoms frequently dismissed as normal menstrual pain, causing delayed diagnosis Also Read: Warning signs of a heart attack: Symptoms in men, women, and the elderly, plus prevention tips

• Frequent infections
• Unexplained fatigue
• Rather than the typical symptoms of thirst or frequent urination

Dr Kasliwal stresses the cost of missed or late diagnosis saying, “For women, delayed detection of heart disease can be fatal. Studies show women have higher mortality rates after their first cardiac event because symptoms were ignored or misunderstood.” In chronic illnesses like endometriosis, the delay can mean chronic pain, infertility, and reduced quality of life.

Also Read: Heart attack symptoms in women: How they differ from men and what to watch for

The root cause 

• Research bias: Clinical trials historically focus on men, ignoring sex-specific symptom variations.
• Stereotypes: Women’s symptoms are too often dismissed as emotional or hormonal.
• Communication gaps: Women may minimise symptoms or delay seeking help.

Also Read: World Heart Day 2025: Doctors reveal how local food can heal, and save you from heart disease

The silent, atypical symptoms of women’s illnesses demand attention. Closing the gender health gap could prevent thousands of premature deaths and vastly improve quality of life.

FAQs on delayed diagnosis of heart disease in women:

Q: Why are heart disease symptoms often missed in women?
A: Women frequently experience non-classic symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or jaw pain, which differ from the chest pain typically associated with heart attacks. These atypical signs can lead to overlooked diagnoses.

Q: How do social attitudes contribute to delayed diagnosis?
A: Women's complaints are often attributed to stress or hormonal changes, leading to dismissal or delay by healthcare providers. Additionally, women may downplay symptoms or hesitate to seek help.

Q: What are the consequences of delayed diagnosis in women?
A: Delayed detection of heart disease can be fatal, with studies showing higher mortality rates after the first cardiac event for women. Chronic illnesses like endometriosis can lead to chronic pain, infertility, and a reduced quality of life due to delayed diagnosis.

Q: What can be done to improve diagnosis?
A: Medical training should include gender-specific knowledge to better identify atypical symptoms. Awareness campaigns should empower women to recognize warning signs and seek timely care. Women should feel confident in asking for second opinions.

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 a specific health diagnosis.