Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and in Connecticut. In 2021, one in five deaths among women were from cardiovascular diseases. Over 60 million women in the U.S., roughly 44%, have some form of heart disease, and while this is an alarming number, even more alarming, only 56% of women actually know they carry a disease.
A huge factor of women not realizing they have heart disease or are experiencing a heart attack is because it presents differently in men versus women. We are taught from a young age that chest pain and heartburn are symptoms to look out for in regard to a potential heart attack. This, however, is the symptoms males should look out for, not females. When a female is experiencing a heart attack she likely will feel it in her stomach and arms first.
Due to lack of education, many women end up dying over something that could have been preventable with the proper education and awareness on the matter.
Have you ever wondered why your body may not be responding to the standard healthcare recommendations? Well, maybe it’s because the majority of health studies have been conducted on men and women’s needs are often overlooked.
Throughout my twenty years of life I have dealt with many different health issues which have included numerous doctors appointments and hospital visits. One of my biggest issues has been facing the struggles of endometriosis which leaves me sick constantly. My concerns have often been dismissed as “just a woman’s issue” and brushed off. Throughout history, healthcare has prioritized men and avoided a focus on what women may need.
The majority of medical trials and tests have been conducted mostly on men, partly due to the concerns that arise around reproductive differences in women. This means that in 2024, the medical field is still unsure how certain drug prescriptions will affect women. Throughout the years medical professionals have concluded that standard health advice is unreliable for women and can cause them further damage. Because of this, the entirety of women’s healthcare has lacked the adequate resources needed for effective care.
The maternal mortality rate for women across the country was raised by around 40% between the years of 2018 and 2021 as COVID hit. Luckily, Connecticut has recently passed legislation to establish a Maternal Mortality Review Program (MMRP) and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) which will require review of all maternal deaths and outside factors associated with them to try to reduce these risks in the future. Although this is a start and a huge leap for women and their health outcomes, it is not enough.
Because of the underrepresentation of women’s health, there are still fewer treatments and technology to help certain issues they may be experiencing. Women should not have to go undiagnosed from diseases due to poor care before change happens. Medical professionals should be responsible for providing the best standard of care for all. I believe there needs to be more education and research on women’s health and how it presents differently and requires different needs. There should also be more studies and trials conducted with just women to try to grasp a better idea of what the female body needs in different aspects of healthcare.
This lack of care has resulted in deaths for millions of women across the country, many of which are preventable. Leaving women untreated and dismissing basic concerns denies their basic human right to healthcare. It is immoral.
Aleksa Sacchetti is a junior at Sacred Heart University, majoring in Health Science with a concentration in Public Health.