You see the lead male character of Roseanne , Dan Conner, recovering from a heart attack in his hospital bed. This is a serious problem. For one thing, doctors are less likely to recognize heart disease in women, especially because women with heart disease have different symptoms than men, so women are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late. Heart attack is also difficult to recognize because women may experience little or no chest pain. Even when heart disease is diagnosed, women's responses to the treatment methods are different than men's.
Sexism plays a role.
Heart disease has traditionally been studied in older men, because it has been considered a man's problem and men have often been considered the standard for the whole population. Researchers believed the results of a study could be applied equally to women, but this is not the case. As stated earlier, heart disease has different symptoms in women and women respond differently to treatment. I have discussed some of the causes of the problem and now I'll discuss the solution. As with any problem, awareness is essential - not only should women be aware of the risks, but doctors should also be aware that heart disease is a serious problem for women too.