Over 60 Million Women in the U.S. Are Living With Heart Disease: What You Need to Know
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, claiming more lives than all cancers combined. Yet it is still widely misunderstood as a “man’s disease.” The truth is sobering: over 60 million women in the United States—44% of the female population—are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. For too long, women’s heart health has been neglected, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.
At the Laguna Institute of Functional Medicine, we believe this gap in awareness is costing women not only years of life, but years of vitality. By reframing how we approach cardiovascular health—through prevention, root-cause analysis, and personalized care—we can change the trajectory of this epidemic.
Women’s Risks Are Not the Same
The conventional model of cardiology often applies research conducted on men to women, assuming their risks and symptoms will look the same. But women experience cardiovascular disease differently, and their risk factors are more complex.
Hormonal changes, especially during and after menopause, strip away a natural protective effect on blood vessels and shift cholesterol and blood pressure patterns. Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes leave a lifelong imprint, increasing the chance of developing hypertension, stroke, or heart failure years later. Autoimmune conditions—far more common in women than men—can fuel systemic inflammation that accelerates vascular damage. And psychosocial factors, such as chronic caregiver stress, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and sleep disruption, directly influence blood pressure regulation and cardiac rhythm.
When these factors intersect, they create a risk profile that is unique to women. Without a framework that accounts for these realities, millions of women remain vulnerable to preventable cardiovascular disease.
The Signals Too Many Ignore
Another critical challenge is that women’s cardiovascular symptoms often look nothing like the “Hollywood heart attack” image of crushing chest pain. Instead, they are quieter, more diffuse, and frequently misinterpreted.
Common signs include:
Shortness of breath during routine activity or at rest, signaling reduced cardiac output.
Persistent fatigue unrelieved by rest, reflecting hidden cardiovascular strain.
Jaw, neck, or upper back pain in place of or alongside chest discomfort.
Nausea, dizziness, or lightheadedness that precedes or masks a cardiac event.
Swelling in ankles or legs caused by fluid retention and early heart failure.
These subtler presentations are too often dismissed by both patients and providers. When ignored, they delay care and increase the risk of lasting damage. Awareness of these warning signals can mean the difference between early intervention and irreversible progression.
A Functional Medicine Perspective
At the Laguna Institute, we do not accept that women’s heart disease is inevitable or that it must follow the conventional path of late detection and lifelong prescriptions. Functional medicine reframes the problem: instead of focusing only on the end-stage disease, we seek to understand and address the root causes that lead to it.
For women, this means looking well beyond cholesterol numbers and blood pressure readings. We assess metabolic function, hormone balance, gut and immune health, and environmental exposures—all of which directly influence cardiovascular resilience.
Take metabolic health, for example. Blood sugar instability and insulin resistance create a chronic inflammatory cascade that injures blood vessels and fuels plaque formation. Optimizing nutrient status—such as restoring magnesium and vitamin D—improves vascular tone and reduces the risk of arrhythmias. Addressing stress physiology by supporting balanced cortisol rhythms and protecting restorative sleep helps buffer the cardiovascular toll of chronic stress. Even subtle factors, such as toxin exposures from the environment or hormone-disrupting chemicals, can push the heart into imbalance when left unchecked.
When layered together, these insights move women beyond symptom management toward true prevention and healing.
Prevention Is the Most Powerful Treatment
Every woman deserves to know that cardiovascular disease is not a foregone conclusion. Prevention, when it begins early and targets the root causes, is profoundly powerful. This is not about crash diets or temporary fixes—it’s about creating daily rhythms that sustain heart health for decades.
Thoughtful nutrition stabilizes metabolism, lowers inflammation, and supports hormonal balance. Consistent physical activity, ranging from structured resistance training to restorative movement, strengthens the heart and improves circulation. Stress regulation through mindfulness, breathwork, or restorative practices helps reduce the body’s cardiovascular load. And crucial life transitions—such as menopause, postpartum recovery, or high-stress seasons of caregiving—become key opportunities for intervention rather than turning points for decline.
These strategies, tailored to each woman’s biology and life circumstances, redefine what prevention can achieve. They move women from fear of statistics into a position of strength, where daily choices compound into long-term resilience.
Changing the Story
The statistic is staggering: 60 million women in America live with heart disease. But statistics are not destiny. By recognizing women’s unique risks, paying closer attention to subtle warning signs, and embracing a root-cause model of care, we can shift the story from late diagnosis to empowered prevention.
At the Laguna Institute of Functional Medicine, our goal is not only to extend lifespan, but to preserve vitality and quality of life along the way.
