Dr. Holly Anderson from the Women’s Heart Alliance says women regularly receive less or worse treatment for heart disease than men.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women,” said Anderson to members of Congress. “We’re losing ground. More women are dying from heart disease now. More in the last three years than in the last few decades.”

The Heart Alliance also found women are 50-percent more likely to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack because of unique symptoms such as fatigue, jaw pain, nausea and anxiety.

In Indiana, over 14-thousand women die of cardiovascular disease a year and not only is the rise of heart disease costing families, it’s costing the state too. Across the state heart disease costs the healthcare system between $21,000 and $44,000 per capita a year.

This week, the Alliance sent a letter asking members of Congress to ensure Indiana doctors are equipped with the latest heart health research to save more lives and lower expenses.