Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in Australia.
The Victorian Heart Hospital is helping women live longer, healthier lives by providing women-centred healthcare and raising awareness of women’s heart disease in the community and among clinicians.
‘We know that when women experience heart disease there can be delays to them getting treatment, and that sometimes women receive less invasive treatment or less treatment compared to men,’ said the Women’s Heart Health lead at the Victorian Heart Hospital, Dr Esther Davis.
‘The reasons behind that are complicated, and we are still learning to understand them fully.’
‘We know there is still this perception that heart attacks are something that mainly happen to men, and symptoms in women may not be recognised as related to the heart.’
The Victorian Heart Hospital, which is home to the Victorian Heart Institute, is working to improve cardiac outcomes for women through:
- educational programs
- a dedicated Women’s Heart Clinic
- encouraging women to participate in cardiovascular disease research and clinical trials
- raising the profile of women’s heart disease
Women’s risk factors for cardiovascular disease heighten during pregnancy and menopause.
‘I would encourage any woman over the age of 45, or any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman over the age of 30, to go see their GP and get a Heart Health Check,’ said Dr Davis.
‘So, that they are aware of their risk of heart disease, and they can do everything they can to protect their heart health into the future.’
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men and women include:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- diabetes
- physical inactivity
- unhealthy diet
Additional risk factors for women include:
- pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and preterm delivery
- menopause
- polycystic ovary syndrome
Common symptoms of heart disease include:
- chest pain or chest pressure
- jaw and arm pain
- indigestion
- difficulty breathing
- back pain
- dizziness
- fatigue
Of note, women under the age of 50 are more likely to experience non-chest pain symptoms than men.