With all the health probs making headlines these days—cancer, obesity, thyroid disorders, the Zika virus—the World Health Organization (sadly) has no shortage of ailments to choose from for its focus on World Health Day, which is today. So it might come as a surprise to hear that the crisis it’s most concerned with right now is mental health.
“Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide,” according to a WHO press release, which also reveals that 300 million people are now living with depression, up 18 percent since 2005.
“These new figures are a wake-up call for all countries to rethink their approaches to mental health and to treat it with the urgency that it deserves,” says WHO director-general, Margaret Chan, MD.
“These new figures are a wake-up call for all countries to rethink their approaches to mental health.”
Depression and anxiety don’t discriminate. It affects everyone: young and old, men and women, and every race. The WHO points out that even in high-income countries, 50 percent of people with depression don’t seek treatment.
February is American Heart Month, but truth be told, your heart deserves attention all year long. And here's something that might stop you in your tracks: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Yet, fewer women today know about this than they did ten years ago.1
When it comes to heart attacks, you may envision an older man dramatically clutching his chest, like those scenes in the movies. A heart attack happens when blood flow to your heart becomes blocked, causing heart muscle cells to die.
And sure, chest pain is a common symptom of a heart attack. But in people assigned female at birth, the warning signs can be different than their male counterparts—not to mention, much easier to miss.2 Ignoring the signs can be dangerous and deadly if you don’t get help right away. The sooner you can recognize what a heart attack looks like, the faster treatment can begin.
So, let’s talk about what heart attacks look like in women. Because knowing the signs could save your life—or someone else’s.
How (and why) are heart attack symptoms different in women?
For starters, “women are not just small men,” Amy Ahnert, MD, Director of the Women's Heart Program at Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System, tells Well+Good. Women have different biology, hormones, and even smaller blood vessels, she explains. And these biological differences really do matter in terms of which symptoms women are likely to develop.
Even the way cholesterol builds up in arteries can look different depending on your sex. Men typically develop blockages in their main heart arteries. But, women tend to develop plaques (aka fatty substances in your arteries made up of cholesterol and calcium) in the smaller blood vessels.
Now, it's worth noting that the most common symptom regardless of sex is chest pain or tightness, according to Basel Ramlawi, MD, System Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Main Line Health. It can feel like an elephant sitting on your chest and you may break into a sweat. This chest pain may come on with exercise, after a big meal, or some kind of unusual physical activity, Ramlawi adds.
But other symptoms of a heart attack in women can be much more subtle and easier to brush off (more on those symptoms later). Many women don't recognize these signs may point to a heart attack, which means they may wait longer to get help. And when they do seek medical care, healthcare providers may dismiss women’s symptoms as anxiety, which can delay treatment even further.
Dr. Ahnert points out that women are more likely to call 911 for their male partner's heart attack symptoms than for their own. Between managing family responsibilities and work, women tend to put their own health last, Dr. Ramlawi adds. “They may be juggling multiple things simultaneously, so they brush off their health and ignore their cardiac symptoms,” he adds.
This delay can have serious consequences. Plus, women who have heart attacks and heart disease tend to have worse outcomes than men, Dr. Ahnert explains. When warning signs don't look like the dramatic chest pain we see in movies, they're more likely to get overlooked.
“In cardiology, we have a saying: Time is muscle,” Dr. Anhert says. This means that during a heart attack, every minute without treatment causes more heart muscle cells to die from lack of blood flow. The faster you get medical care, the more heart muscle you can save, and the better your chances of recovery.
Heart attack symptoms in women
So if chest pain isn't the only indicator of a heart attack, what do you need to look for? Here are the most common heart attack symptoms in women to know:
advertisement
Pain or discomfort: It might show up in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or even your stomach. Some women describe the upper back pain as feeling like someone's tying a rope around them.
Breaking into a cold sweat: And we're not talking about your usual post-workout glow. This is different, unexpected, and often comes with other symptoms.
Nausea or an upset stomach: That queasy feeling you might blame on bad takeout could be more serious, especially if it comes with other symptoms.
Shortness of breath: If you're suddenly winded by your usual activities or feeling breathless while resting, pay attention. This can happen with or without chest pain.
Unusual fatigue: This is not your typical end-of-day fatigue. This is an overwhelming, unusual exhaustion and weakness that doesn't go away with rest.
Lightheadedness or anxiety: Feeling dizzy or unusually anxious for no clear reason? Don't brush it off.
One woman's heart-wrenching experience
Heart attacks in women don't always announce themselves in obvious ways.
Take it from Channing Muller, founder at DCM Communications, who had her first heart attack at age 26. Yup, we said “first” because she had a second heart attack about a month later. She was active, just completed a three-day walk for a cure where she walked 60 miles, training for a half marathon, and feeling great. One weekend morning, after a night out, she got up thinking she'd head to the gym. “I took one step out of my bed, and my heart just started racing uncontrollably,” Muller tells Well+Good. “I broke out into a sweat.”
She felt lightheaded, tingly all over, and when she looked in the mirror, she’d lost all color. “My heart was racing so fast, you would have thought I just sprinted down the street, except I'd taken about four steps,” she says. At first, she wondered if it was just a weird hangover. She tried taking deep breaths but could only manage one deep breath followed by several short ones.
Desperate to feel better, she crawled back to bed, hoping the symptoms would pass. They didn’t. That’s when it hit her: Something is seriously wrong. Even then, it never occurred to her that she was having a heart attack. It wasn’t until after several hours and tests in the emergency room that she got her diagnosis. That's why recognizing the signs that women can have is so essential.
Risk factors of a heart attack
Many of the traditional risk factors for heart attacks, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, and diabetes, apply to everyone. But women also face unique risks that often go unrecognized.
Complications during pregnancy
Pregnancy complications are a major one. For example, did you experience gestational hypertension (high blood pressure in pregnancy), preeclampsia (a form of severe high blood pressure in pregnancy), gestational diabetes, or a preterm birth? Any of these could increase your risk of heart disease, Dr. Ahnert explains. Preeclampsia alone can even quadruple a woman’s risk of a heart attack within 10 years after giving birth.3
Other underlying health conditions
Other risk factors unique to women include autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, certain breast cancer treatments, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, Dr. Anhert notes. A review of studies published in the Journal of Women’s Health suggests endometriosis might also increase heart disease risk, though more research is still needed.4
advertisement
“Unfortunately, traditional tools physicians use to assess a patient’s cardiovascular risk may underestimate risk in women,” Dr. Anhert explains. But newer tools like calcium score tests (which measure the amount of calcium buildup in your heart's arteries) and other heart scans can do a better job of predicting a woman's risk.
When to see a healthcare provider
Heart attack (and other cardiovascular events) don't wait, and neither should you. You should have yearly checkups to screen for risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. And don't forget to bring up those other unique risk factors we mentioned earlier, like pregnancy complications or autoimmune conditions. Your healthcare provider needs the full picture to help care for your heart.
If you experience symptoms like chest pain, pressure, tightness, dizziness, extreme fatigue, sweating, or shortness of breath, don’t second-guess yourself—call 911. Emergency responders can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the hospital and alert the emergency department before you arrive. Driving yourself or waiting it out could cost precious time.
“All too often, I hear women tell me they didn’t want to ‘be a bother’ or ‘feel embarrassed or stupid’ for going to the emergency room. They were afraid of being told it's anxiety," Dr. Anhert says. Trust your body and seek immediate medical help if something does not feel right. Doing so can save your life.
The bottom line
Heart-related events like a heart attack can be prevented in most cases, but prevention starts with you. Get those regular check-ups, stay active, eat heart-healthy foods, and don't ignore your mental health. It's not selfish to take care of yourself, Dr. Anhert reminds us. Many women may put everyone else first, but your heart health deserves to be a priority, so it's imperative to be your own advocate.
Speaking of being your own advocate, don't let the fear of being wrong stop you from seeking help, Muller advises. “I'd rather go to the emergency room and find out it was just anxiety than not go and find out too late it was a heart attack,” she says. If something feels off, especially if it's different from what you normally experience, speak up. Your life could depend on it.
There was the low-fat craze of the 1990s and 2000s. The ‘10s rolled in with celery juice, Impossible burgers, and truffle oil on everything—followed by whipped coffee, feta pasta, and the gazillion other viral #foodtok moments of the current decade. Try to keep up with the latest food trends, and you’re in for a quite a ride.
advertisement
There’s nothing wrong with opting into the (literal) flavor of the month—but when it comes to nutrition, it’s worth paying special attention to the foods and drinks that have lasted longer than a season. For registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, kombucha is high on that list of long-standing staples.
According to Google Trends, the kombucha trend entered the wellness mainstream around 2017—but Manaker notes that its history stretches back thousands of years, originating as a traditional fermented drink in East Asia. “What has given kombucha such remarkable staying power, compared to other fleeting food and beverage trends, lies in its unique combination of health benefits, historical significance, and overall appeal,” she says.
Back to the ’90s for a minute: That sacred, historical significance of kombucha is what inspired a California teenager named GT Dave to eschew the food trends of the day in favor of a—at the time—less popular way of supporting his and his family’s health. In 1995, Dave was gifted an heirloom Himalayan SCOBY (or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, the living culture used to ferment kombucha). He was intrigued by the healing effects he’d seen firsthand when his mother was sick, so he began crafting his own homemade kombucha. His at-home hobby turned into SYNERGY, The Real Kombucha, and a suite of other probiotic-rich, living foods.
This year, GT’s Living Foods celebrates 30 years of crafting kombucha the real way: traditionally fermented with heirloom cultures for billions of living probiotics. While other health trends have come and gone, it’s clear Dave was ahead of the curve all those years ago.
Here’s what Manaker has to say about why the kombucha trend is so much more than just a passing fad, the health benefits of the drink, and why it’s worthy of a forever spot in your daily wellness routine.
The health benefits of kombucha
The secret to foods that outlast all the fads? They strike the balance of nutritious, tasty, and generally low-effort. Done, done, and done: According to Manaker, the health benefits of kombucha are wide-ranging—and its delicious, tangy taste is the cherry (or guava, or pomelo, or strawberry) on top.
First and foremost, studies suggest that drinking kombucha may help boost your gut health, which has a major effect on your overall well-being. “Kombucha is a source of probiotics, which are beneficial microorganisms that support gut health by balancing the gut microbiome,” Manaker says. “A healthy gut microbiome is linked to improved digestion, immune health, and nutrient absorption.”
Some kombucha contains polyphenols and bioactive compounds, which Manaker says may help manage inflammation in the body, as well as antioxidants, which help combat oxidative stress by neutralizing harmful free radicals. “Data highlights that the consumption of antioxidant-rich beverages like kombucha can support overall cellular health and potentially reduce the risk of chronic diseases,” she says.
To reap its full benefits, Manaker recommends sipping kombucha daily. “Consistent consumption helps colonize the gut with the beneficial probiotics found in this fermented beverage, supporting a balanced and healthy microbiome over time,” she says—with the caveat that not all kombucha is created equal. Choose one that contains live probiotics and diverse strains (like SYNERGY, The Real Kombucha), she says, because these ingredients contribute more actively to gut health.
Why the kombucha trend has such staying power
From Manaker’s POV, the “kombucha trend” has withstood decades (correction, centuries) of changing food-and-beverage tides because it’s equal parts nutritious and delicious. “A growing awareness of gut health and its importance to overall well-being has kept kombucha in the spotlight,” she says. “Its natural probiotics and enzymes support a balanced microbiome, which in turn promotes digestion, immunity, and even potentially mental health.”
advertisement
And beyond its health benefits? “Kombucha’s distinct, tangy, and slightly effervescent flavor profile has helped it gain a loyal following as a delicious and refreshing alternative to sugary sodas or artificial drinks,” Manaker says.
What to look for in a quality kombucha
“When choosing a kombucha brand, it’s essential to prioritize quality, ingredients, and sourcing,” Manaker says. She looks for options that are raw, organic, unpasteurized (to help preserve the live probiotics and enzymes, she says), and grown by the traditional fermentation process. “Transparency about the ingredients and brewing process is another key factor,” she adds. “Opt for brands that list exactly what they use without hidden sugars or synthetic flavorings.”
GT’s SYNERGY checks every one of her kombucha boxes. She loves the small-batch brewing and weeks-long fermentation process, which separates GT’s from most other kombuchas on the market *and* boosts its nutritional value. “It’s clear [GT’s Living Foods] never cuts corners—each bottle is raw, unpasteurized, and free from artificial flavors, which only enhances the natural and refreshing experience. And since it is made with real tea, it naturally contains antioxidants to support my brain health.”
Manaker’s go-to for a little well-being boost is Pomelo Pink Lemonade, but you can’t go wrong with any of SYNERGY’s 23 fizzy flavors. Try them all and find your favorite—and then make kombucha a forever thing in your life.
Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter
Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.