Heart Disease & Women

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States of both men and women. But the disease in women often is overlooked. Women don't expect to get it, and doctors are less likely to expect heart disease in women before menopause. Women have a natural protection against heart attack before menopause. Their ovaries produce estrogen, a hormone that helps keep blood pressure and levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol low and levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol high. But after menopause, the risk of heart disease increases.


Symptoms of heart disease can differ between men and women. Men more often experience a squeezing or feeling of tightness in the chest. Women, however, may also experience shortness of breath or extreme fatigue from routine activities.

The following household activities scale was developed to help women with heart disease monitor their symptoms. Household chores are used because most women perform them -- even if not active otherwise. They also tend to experience higher stress when the chores aren't done. That means women sometimes feel compelled to do chores when it's physically difficult. When chores become more physically difficult, it can be a sign of worsening symptoms.

Sometimes women change the way they do chores because of chest pain and discomfort, shortness of breath or other symptoms of heart disease. Some women are forced to completely stop some or all of these activities. Screen for how symptoms affect activity by completing the chart below. If several of these chores have become difficult, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Mention your results on this scale.

If you already suffer from heart disease, complete the chart every six months or so to help monitor if your symptoms are worsening. If so, your treatment may need to be changed.

The following scale corresponds to the numbered columns in the chart below. Indicate which of the household activities in the chart below you can... 1. Perform easily. 2. Perform, but with some difficulty. 3. No longer attempt because of heart disease symptoms. 4. No longer attempt because of other health problems. 5. Never have performed. KIMBLE HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES SCALE Household Activity 1 2 3 4 5 1. Cooking 2. Washing dishes by hand. 3. Loading the dishwasher 4. Scrubbing pots and pans 5. Carrying a laundry basket 6. Loading and unloading the washer and dryer 7. Carrying a 10-pound bag of groceries 8. Unpacking groceries and placing them on shelves 9. Vacuuming 10. Sweeping the floor 11.Mopping the floor 12. Scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees 13. Changing bed linens 14. Moving furniture Scale modified and printed with permission of Laura Kimble, R.N., Ph.D., Emory University School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia.