The heart of women differs from that of men by its smaller size but also by specific risk factors, caused by contraception or pregnancy.

Cardiologist Claire Mounier-Vehier, head of the vascular medicine service in Lille, spoke of these particularities on Tuesday on Europe 1.

No, a woman's heart is not the same as a man's.

This is not the hackneyed cliché of yet another film with rose water, but rather anatomy.

Cardiologist Claire Mounier-Vehier, head of the vascular medicine service at the Lille CHRU, explained on Europe 1 on Tuesday the specificities of the female heart.

Here are five things to know, from the size of the heart to the risks of the pill.

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A smaller heart

First unknown data: women's hearts are smaller and weigh between "200 and 300 grams".

"You can easily graft a man's heart onto a woman's heart, but the reverse is more complicated", explains Claire Mounier-Vehier.

"The heart of women beats faster and is full of estrogen receptors, it will be very sensitive to fluctuations in the hormonal cycle during menstruation, pregnancy and at the time of menopause," she continues.

An organ "very sensitive to stress"

The female heart is also very sensitive to stress.

"The most cataclysmic form is the so-called 'broken heart' syndrome, where the heart is totally paralyzed after a great deal of stress," explains the cardiologist, who is also co-founder of the "Act for the heart of women" foundation.

"It's a syndrome that affects eight women for every two men, and mostly postmenopausal women."

Increasing heart attacks in women

This is a figure that worries cardiologists: in 15 years, heart attacks in women under 50 have tripled.

In question, a lifestyle more and more similar to that of men, including an increase in tobacco consumption.

"In absolute terms, there are still more men who have heart attacks than women. But there are + 5% per year of hospitalizations of women under 55 for myocardial infarction. This is what worries us ", abounds the cardiologist, who drew a robot portrait of these women at risk.

"Before age 50, it will generally be a very stressed woman, very smoker and rather insecure. Tobacco is the number 1 cause, before stress, insecurity and sedentary lifestyle", warns Claire Mounier-Vehier.

"If we add stress and a cigarette, and it's cold, it's a cocktail of myocardial infarction. Women with white hands must be careful," warns the cardiologist.

The pill, one of the leading causes of infarction and stroke

Claire Mounier-Vehier assures him: "one of the leading causes of infarction and stroke in women is the pill."

The cardiologist warned of the importance of carefully choosing your method of contraception, in consultation with a gynecologist, in order to reduce the risk factors.

"There are red lights of contraception that women must know absolutely: if they are migraine sufferers, if they have a history of phlebitis, if they already have a known heart disease and they are diabetic", then they must imperatively inform their gynecologist, who can refer them to other methods of contraception.

"Moms must also give their daughters their family history."

Pregnancy, a marathon that puts a strain on the heart

Pregnancy is another time in a woman's life that puts a strain on their hearts.

“Pregnancy is a marathon, it's like running day and night for nine months,” explains Claire Mounier-Vehier.

"It is a stress test which will tire a heart which, if it is not in good health at the base, will precipitate heart disease. In practice there are three situations: either I am a cardiac woman known (valve, aorta ...), then we talk to our doctor and gynecologist, and we stop certain drugs if we can. "

"The second situation is a woman with high blood pressure, diabetes, smoker or in her forties. These women are at high risk of improperly manufacturing their placenta and, if it is of poor quality, it can lead to brain complications. cardiac, vascular and renal ", she continues.

"The third situation is after childbirth. Women who have had a cardiovascular accident during pregnancy should be monitored."