How women experience heart disease differently than men

February 18, 2026

Heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death in Canada. One in three women will be affected by heart disease.

Dr. Emmanuelle Massie is a cardiologist at Interior Health (IH) in Kelowna. “Cardiovascular (heart) disease is a leading cause of mortality in women,” she says. “However, most clinical trials have enrolled a much greater proportion of men compared to women, and hence there is very little data on women in this field.”

Symptoms of heart disease for women

Stories@IH

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