Кардиолог: у женщин часто нет классических симптомов инфаркта, а гормоны резко повышают холестерин

Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Jim O'Brien joins Kathryn Thomas on the latest episode of Are We There Yet?, presented in association with Mater Private Network, for an insightful conversation about women's heart health, hormonal changes and the gender gap in cardiovascular care. Dr. O'Brien explains how decades of male-focused medical research have left significant gaps in understanding women's cardiovascular health. He stresses that women often don't experience the "classic" symptoms associated with heart attacks. "Women are not just little men," he says, explaining that while men are more likely to experience the well-known crushing chest pain, women frequently present with symptoms such as sudden breathlessness, dizziness, and feeling like they're about to collapse. As a result, many women delay seeking urgent medical care. Dr. O'Brien also highlights the impact hormones have on heart health, particularly during perimenopause. He reveals that a woman's LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, can increase by as much as 25% as estrogen levels change, even when diet and lifestyle haven't changed. Another key topic discussed is the way women's heart symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed. Dr. O'Brien warns against dismissing palpitations as "just anxiety," noting that there is significant overlap between anxiety symptoms and atrial fibrillation (AFib). He points to research showing that treating AFib through cardiac ablation can also improve patients' depressive symptoms. To improve outcomes, Dr. O'Brien is calling for closer collaboration between cardiologists and gynaecologists, saying multidisciplinary care is essential to better support women's physical, hormonal, and psychological health. The latest episode of Are We There Yet? with Kathryn Thomas is available to stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast and other major podcast platforms, with a full video version also available on YouTube. Listen to the episode below: