Heart disease leading cause of death for women in the US

CHARLOTTE, NC —  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, but it’s a condition that doctors say is under diagnosed and under treated.

February is American Hearth Month. 

A cardiologist with Atrium Health talked about the unique symptoms women can experience with heart disease. 

“We commonly think of the typical heart disease patient as someone who looks like Homer Simpson, that’s not always the case. Heart disease is the number one killer of women over our lifetimes,” Dr. Esther Kim said. 

Arm pain is another symptom  and it can be in both arms. 

Shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, nausea or sweating– can also be indicators of heart disease in women.