Heart disease in women is often diagnosed late, partly because of non-specific symptoms. Women are also under represented in clinical research results regarding heart disease leading to less preventative measures.
Medicine 33, the show on TG2 dedicated to health, spoke with Dr. Lucia Torracca, Head of Cardiac Surgery at Humanitas.
Some conditions such as heart disease, are collectively perceived as masculine at the expense of prevention. “In the female population there is little prevention on heart disease. Heart disease, both ischemic and otherwise, along with cerebrovascular diseases, are the leading cause of death in women over 65 years and this is definitely underrated, not only in the general population but also sometimes in the medical field. Often women arrive too late for treatment” says Dr. Torracca.
In women, the symptoms are atypical
“While men are very alerted by symptoms, women tend to underestimate their own because they do not have a perception of the fact that the symptoms may be important cardiac symptoms. Everyone knows that in the presence of chest pain, you have to go quickly to a doctor or emergency room, but for women chest pain in not always present: infarction disorders (obstruction of the blood supply) are often atypical, such as malaise or nausea (a general feeling of disccomfort)”.
Women are also under-represented in clinical trials and the results that are obtained with men are usually translated for use by women as well.
Reparative surgery
There are also surgical techniques related to the heart that take into account the patient’s sex. One such technique is Reparative surgery, or valve repair, in which doctor Torracca specializes.
“In general, the reparative surgery is advantageous compared to replacement; Reparative surgery is indicated as the ideal treatment for women with valvular diseases who are planning a pregnancy. ”
