How Stress Affects Women's Hearts

Typical heart attacks in men vs women: why stress attacks are often missed

Doctors and cardiologists tend to focus on heart attacks caused by clogged arteries, the type that occurs most often in men. As a result, they often overlook stress-induced heart attacks, which are caused by an imbalance in the heart’s oxygen supply. This type is most common in women aged 40 to 55 with busy lives. It’s also the stage of life when estrogen levels drop and menopause begins. On top of that, many women are at their busiest with careers, family, and caring for aging parents—often at the expense of a healthy lifestyle.

silent heart attacks in women

Women experience ‘silent heart attacks’ more often than men, meaning they feel no symptoms at the time. Chest pain, pain between the shoulder blades, or a sensation that your bra is too tight can all be signs of a heart attack. Even if you don’t notice it happening, a silent heart attack still causes damage. Often, symptoms appear later, along with another heart attack that can be felt.

Stress and the heart: the hidden risk for women

As many as 90% of women experience stress. Yet many are unaware of what this stress means for their health, especially their heart health. The connection between mind and heart is undeniable. Prolonged stress can lead to an stress-induced heart attack, caused by a spasm of the blood vessels around the heart that reduces oxygen supply.

Signals of a heart attack in women

Men experience a heart attack differently from women. Yet most attention has focused on male symptoms. As a result, women often fail to recognise the signs, even though they may appear weeks in advance. Fatigue, poor sleep, and shortness of breath can be early warnings. Shortly before a heart attack, women may also experience sudden dizziness or weakness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, discomfort in the stomach area, sometimes with nausea, a burning sensation behind the breastbone, discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades, neck pain, a tight or pressing feeling in the chest, and heart palpitations.

Put your health first

Modern life places enormous demands on women, especially in the years when careers, family responsibilities, and caring for others all overlap. This constant pressure often leaves little time to recharge physically or mentally. Calming the mind and improving sleep are important, as poor sleep makes you more sensitive to stressors. Women should prioritize their own health more often and care for themselves as well as they do for others. Janneke adds: ‘setting boundaries, taking rest, and making time for relaxation are crucial for a healthy heart. Your health is a priority, not a luxury.’

Time out for your heart: the value of women’s retreats

Women’s retreats and specialised programmes at health spas or wellness resorts provide a rare opportunity to step away from daily stress and focus entirely on personal wellbeing. These settings often combine expert-led workshops, restorative treatments, and tailored exercise or relaxation sessions, all designed with women’s specific health needs in mind. For heart health in particular, such retreats can be a powerful reset. Time spent in a peaceful environment, with proper rest, nutritious food, and stress-reducing activities, can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and help restore balance between mind and body. Most importantly, they give women space to reflect, set boundaries, and reconnect with themselves - steps that are just as vital for a healthy heart as any medical check-up.

About Christy

Christy, Puurenkuur’s copywriter, wrote this blog after reading an interview in LINDA Magazine with cardiologist Janneke Wittekoek, founder of HeartLife Clinics. In that interview, Wittekoek discusses the connection between stress and heart problems in women.