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WASHINGTON (AP) - Conventional tests won't uncover heart disease in as many as 3 million U.S. women — because instead of the usual bulky clogs in main arteries, these women have a hard-to-spot buildup in smaller blood vessels, researchers said Tuesday.
These are the women who come to the doctor complaining of chest pain or shortness of breath but sometimes are sent away undiagnosed, not knowing they're actually at high risk for a heart attack in the next few years.
"The No. 1 message for women is, 'Pay attention to your symptoms,'" said Dr. George Sopko, a heart specialist at the National Institutes of Health, which sponsored the research. "If you don't have visible blockages, that doesn't mean you're not at risk."
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