Heart failure symptoms in women: How they’re different

Women often develop a form of the condition that hits harder.

January 23, 2026

By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Reviewed by Emily Lau, MD, MPH, Contributor

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Cropped image shows the torso of a woman holding a hand to her chest in pain.

Because of this, heart failure symptoms in women hit harder, says Dr. Emily Lau, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who specializes in women’s cardiovascular health.

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About the Author

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is the executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website. … See Full Bio

View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

Emily Lau, MD, MPH, Contributor

Dr. Emily Lau is a women’s cardiovascular health specialist and investigator at Mass General Brigham. She is the co-director of the Mass General Brigham Women’s Heart Health Program. Dr. Lau leads a research program that applies … See Full Bio

View all posts by Emily Lau, MD, MPH

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