A Feminine Profile Heart disease might sound like a vague, generic term. It occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits. This reduces blood flow to the heart. That, of course, can be fatal. While both men and women are affected by coronary artery disease, it is not necessarily in the same way.
Women tend to have fatigue and chest tightness, rather than the pain many men feel.
Heart fluttering is another symptom, as are sweating, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and shortness of breath. Before age 50 or so, women are slightly less likely than men to develop the condition, although women with risk factors may. After menopause, however, the risk for coronary artery disease increases dramatically. By the time the average women is in her 70s, her risk is equal to a man's of the same age. Researchers think that the estrogen women produce in their childbearing years may have a protective effect on the heart and blood vessels.