3 silent killers of women

Certain illnesses are more dangerous for women than men. Some medical conditions, called silent killers, can develop without noticeable symptoms and remain undetected until they reach an advanced stage.

Here are three silent killers of women:

1. Heart disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, claiming the lives of one in five women every year. Most women have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Two-thirds of women who die from a heart attack have never experienced chest pains.

“Heart disease is a silent killer in women because the symptoms can be so non-specific,” says Jyoti Sharma, M.D., a Piedmont Heart Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer of Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. “One of the most common things I hear from women is they feel fatigued. But they don’t believe that is really a symptom, because everyone gets tired. Or when you think of a heart attack, you think of someone having chest pains.  Women experiencing a heart attack may have subtler symptoms like jaw pain, headaches or back pains.”

If you are experiencing any symptoms that include shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating or abdominal pain, please consult your doctor.  

“Heart disease is 80% preventable,” Dr. Sharma says. “The earlier your doctor detects health risks, the more options a woman will have as far as treatment.”

At Piedmont, we empower women to take charge of their heart health with convenient access to screenings designed for women. For $99, you can uncover your personal risk factors and learn about lifestyle changes that can lower your risk. To learn more about Piedmont's women’s heart screening, visit piedmontred.org.

2. Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer kills more than 14,000 women a year in the United States. Though it has a significant survival rate if caught early, it's difficult to diagnose because women often have no symptoms.

“Women don’t usually come in complaining of symptoms until they are stage III or stage IV,” says Tia Guster, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist.  “At that point the prognosis can be devastating.”

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Dr. Guster recommends seeing your doctor if you experience bloating, pelvic pain, or loss of appetite.

“If you feel something is unusual, go to your doctor,” Dr. Guster says. “They will likely take a detailed medical history, do a physical and consider performing an ultrasound. If there is a genetic predisposition for ovarian cancer, they may consider removing the patient’s ovaries.”

3. Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a liver disease caused by five viruses. Hepatitis C being the most severe and a leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S. Hepatitis C is spread when the blood of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. This transmission usually occurs through sharing needles, blood transfusion, organ transplants and, less commonly, sexual contact.

Nearly 4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis C. About 80% of people with hepatitis C have no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Though there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, there are medications that can cure the condition.

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