Women’s Health Week highlights the urgent need for women to prioritise their heart health

This year’s Women’s Health Week (September 2-6) is shining a light on some of the biggest issues in women’s health and experts from Monash Victorian Heart Institute are doing their part by urging all women to take control of their heart health.

Although the commonly held belief is that heart disease mainly affects men, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death among Australian women, taking the lives of nearly 20 women each day.

Even more concerning, CVD accounts for about 10 per cent of the overall disease burden in women, with Indigenous women facing a particularly heightened risk—nearly double that of non-Indigenous women.

Cardiologist and researcher Dr Esther Davis, lead of the Women’s Heart program at the Victorian Heart Hospital and co-lead of the Women’s Heart research challenge at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute, is all too familiar with the misconceptions surrounding CVD. She emphasises the critical importance of staying vigilant for signs of the disease before “it’s too late”.

“There’s a persistent myth that heart disease is a men’s issue. This outdated thinking means that many women and their healthcare providers aren’t looking for the signs of cardiovascular disease until it’s too late,” Dr Davis said.

“Early detection and treatment can dramatically improve outcomes for women at risk of heart disease. Despite this cardiovascular disease remains under-recognised, under-diagnosed, and under-treated in women.”

Although early intervention is crucial, a failure in recognising the symptoms of heart disease that are unique to women can lead to a delay in treatment and adverse health outcomes.

While chest pain is the most common symptom of heart disease for both women and men, women are more likely to also experience less common symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting and even sleep disturbances.

“Increasing awareness about the way women experience heart disease is key to closing the gap in care,” Dr Davis said.

The following recommendations can help safeguard your heart health:

1. Know your numbers: If you’re 45 or older, schedule a Heart Health Check with your GP. This check, which is free under Medicare at practices that bulk bill, will assess your risk factors—such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol—and estimate your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next five years.
2. Recognise the symptoms: Familiarise yourself with the symptoms of heart attacks in women – including chest pain or pressure, indigestion, fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and vomiting and back or jaw pain.
3. Get moving: Regular physical activity is a powerful tool in reducing the risk of a cardiovascular event. Even short bursts of activity—10 minutes, three times a day—can be just as effective as a continuous 30-minute workout.
4. Eat healthy: A balanced diet, especially one mindful of added salt, is crucial in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
5. Manage stress and sleep well: High stress levels and poor sleep have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues in women. Prioritise your mental well-being and ensure you’re getting enough rest.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.