Heart attacks don\u2019t always look the same \u2014 and a new study from Mayo Clinic highlights the key differences between how they affect men and women.<\/p>\n
The most common cause of heart attacks overall is clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), but in people under 65 \u2014 particularly women \u2014 there are often other factors at play. Atherosclerosis is responsible for 75% of men\u2019s heart attacks, but only 47% of women\u2019s cardiac events, data shows.<\/p>\n
In the study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers analyzed more than 15 years of data on 1,474 heart attacks. They found that more than half of heart attacks in women under age 65 were caused by \u201cnontraditional factors.\u201d Those included embolisms and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), among other factors.
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\nThe researchers also found that the underlying causes of women\u2019s heart attacks were often overlooked or misdiagnosed.<\/p>\n
SCAD \u2014 a rare but serious condition that occurs when a tear develops within the coronary artery \u2014 is nearly six times more common in women compared to men. It is often misdiagnosed as a typical heart attack caused by plaque buildup, which could result in stents being placed unnecessarily, the researchers noted. People who experienced heart attacks caused by stressors like anemia or infection had higher five-year mortality rates, the study found.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecognizing and correctly diagnosing these nontraditional heart attacks allows for more appropriate care and better long-term outcomes,\u201d the release stated. Less than 3% of heart attacks were \u201ctruly unexplained.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThis research shines a spotlight on heart attack causes that have historically been under-recognized, particularly in women,\u201d said Claire Raphael, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., an interventional cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and first author of the study, in a press release. \u201cWhen the root cause of a heart attack is misunderstood, it can lead to treatments that are less effective \u2014 or even harmful.\u201d \u201cClinicians must sharpen their awareness of conditions like SCAD, embolism and stress-related triggers, and patients should advocate for answers when something doesn\u2019t feel right,\u201d he said in the release. \u201cUnderstanding why a heart attack happened is just as important as treating it,\u201d Raphael added. \u201cIt can mean the difference between recovery and recurrence.\u201d \u201cBeing young, healthy and female does not guarantee immunity from heart attack.\u201d The cardiologist emphasized the importance of listening to your body and realizing that no one is immune from a heart attack. \u201cIt is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise, avoid smoking and know the status of any chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol,\u201d he advised. \u201cThe most effective advocate is a well-informed patient,\u201d Serwer added. \u201cIt is crucial to be aware of your medical history, medications and specific cardiac risk factors.\u201d<\/p>\n In the event of new onset chest pain, shortness of breath or severe exertional fatigue, the doctor said it\u2019s essential to seek immediate medical attention. \u201cDo not ignore the symptoms because you may be considered low risk for a heart attack,\u201d he said. The study does have some limitations, Serwer noted, including a lack of ethnic diversity. \u201cThe research also did not account for severity of the underlying medical conditions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Overall, this study serves as a reminder that there are many different causes of heart attacks, Serwer said. \u201cWe need to keep an open mind when evaluating a younger patient with potential cardiac symptoms. There is not a \u2018one-size-fits-all\u2019 approach to treating heart attacks in the young.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: What is the most common cause of heart attacks in men? Introduction to Heart Attacks Heart attacks don\u2019t always look the same \u2014 and a new study from Mayo Clinic highlights the key differences between how they affect men and women. Causes of Heart Attacks The most common cause of heart attacks overall is clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), but in people under 65 \u2014 particularly women \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":23186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23184","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-wellness"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2025%2F09%2F112003388.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall&w=1920&resize=1920,1279&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23184"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23184"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23187,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23184\/revisions\/23187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nA new study from the Mayo Clinic reveals that not all heart attacks look the same. Andrii Zastrozhnov \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span>
\nSenior author Rajiv Gulati, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Division of Interventional Cardiology and Ischemic Heart Disease at Mayo Clinic, said the research highlights the need to rethink how heart attacks are approached, particularly in younger women. <\/p>\nPrevention and Awareness<\/h2>\n
\nWhile atherosclerosis is responsible for 75% of heart attacks in men, only 47% showed that for women with over half of heart attacks in females caused by \u201cnontraditional factors.\u201d Wesley\/peopleimages.com \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span>
\nDr. Bradley Serwer, a Maryland-based cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings. \u201cIt is crucial to recognize that not all heart attacks are identical or caused by the same events,\u201d he said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. <\/p>\nHealthy Lifestyle<\/h2>\n
Seeking Medical Attention<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n
\nA: The most common cause of heart attacks in men is clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), which is responsible for 75% of men\u2019s heart attacks.
\nQ: What is the most common cause of heart attacks in women under 65?
\nA: More than half of heart attacks in women under 65 are caused by \u201cnontraditional factors\u201d such as embolisms and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
\nQ: What is SCAD?
\nA: SCAD is a rare but serious condition that occurs when a tear develops within the coronary artery.
\nQ: How can I prevent a heart attack?
\nA: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercising, avoiding smoking, and being aware of your medical history and cardiac risk factors can help prevent a heart attack.
\nQ: What should I do if I experience symptoms of a heart attack?
\nA: Seek immediate medical attention if you experience new onset chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe exertional fatigue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"