Two take homes from things I’ve recently read.
1 - women don’t present with the classic textbook chest pains that men do. The first acute MI I diagnosed as a resident was in a woman that came to the ER just feeling tired and nauseated. Since she was a diabetic and EKGs are cheap and easy, ordered one. Had the classic “tombstone” pattern and we were pushing streptokinase within minutes. Another woman I started a cardiac workup on was a patient presenting for outpatient surgery. When asked about her exercise routine, she said she got really tired when walking a couple weeks ago. Had to stop and sit. Did it ever happen again? No, but haven’t been walking again either. Got into a long argument with the surgeon about rescheduling the surgery but was ultimately proven right when she got 2 stents placed.
2 - HDL has a “U” shaped risk profile. Too low and too high has increased risks for vascular disease. You want to be between 40-80.