Many people think that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is only a men’s health issue, but it’s not. CVD is a major cause of death of women in Australia.
It’s important to know that women often have a different experience of CVD compared to men. Risk factors and symptoms of CVD can be different, and women are also at a disadvantage when it comes to CVD care.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term that includes heart disease, stroke, blood vessel disease and heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms
Common heart attack symptoms for men and women include:
- chest pain or a feeling of pressure, tightness or heaviness in the chest
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- indigestion
- nausea (feeling unwell)
- vomiting
- a cold sweat
- dizziness
- tiredness.
Heart attack symptoms for women
Women can have different symptoms to men and are more likely to have symptoms that don’t involve chest pain. Instead, you may have pain in your:
- neck
- jaw
- arms
- back
- shoulders.
If you have symptoms of heart attack, call 000 straight away.
Why the gender gap?
In Australia, women who have a serious heart attack are less likely to get the right treatment in hospital compared to men. One study found that for a certain type of heart attack, women were more likely to die within 6 months after being admitted to hospital.
Women are also more likely to get the wrong diagnosis from a health professional when they have a heart attack.
Research suggests that women who have symptoms of CVD are not treated as quickly as men and are less likely to get the same level of care that men do.
CVD studies have traditionally focused more on men. As a result, women are often diagnosed and treated for CVD based on research findings about men.
What women need to know
There are many factors that can increase your risk for developing CVD. General risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, anxiety, smoking, excessive drinking and being overweight.
Risk factors specific to women include:
- certain autoimmune conditions (e.g. lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), which are more common in women than men
- menopause, including premature and early menopause
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- taking the Pill
- pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia.
It’s important to know the risks and symptoms of CVD and take control of your heart health.
Protect your heart health
There are many other ways you can lower your risk of CVD. For example:
- get regular health checks, including blood pressure and cholesterol checks – ask your doctor about what’s right for you
- talk to your doctor about your risk factors and how to manage them
- find out if you have a family history of CVD and share this information with your doctor
- eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
- do physical activity 5 or more days each week.
When to see your doctor
Heart health checks usually start at age 45, or 35 if you have diabetes. If you are a First Nations person, it’s recommended you have regular heart health checks from age 30. Ask your doctor how often to have checks.
To learn more about the risks and symptoms of CVD in women, visit the Jean Hailes Heart health webpages or the Heart Foundation website.
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