Looking after your heart

Studies from the British Heart Foundation and Heart Research UK show that gender influences:

• how quickly a person seeks medical help when experiencing heart attack-like symptoms
• how accurately a first diagnosis is made
• how quickly a patient is referred, and
• whether they receive the correct recommended heart attack treatments

The studies show that women experiencing a heart attack have a 50% higher chance than men of receiving a wrong first diagnosis, leading to a higher risk of incorrect treatment and even death. It was also found that women having a heart attack delay seeking medical help for longer than men, because they are not entirely sure of the symptoms. The British Heart Foundation concluded that ‘over a ten-year period, more than 8,200 women have died needlessly following a heart attack. They could have been saved if they had received the same quality of care as men.

While symptoms vary from person to person, there are no symptoms that women experience more or less often than men. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort. Sometimes the severity of symptoms experienced by women can be subtler, but not always.

Symptoms include:

• chest pain or discomfort in your chest that comes on suddenly and doesn't go away. It may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing. The pain or discomfort may spread to one or both of your arms, or may spread to your neck, jaw, back or stomach
  
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing with or without chest discomfort
  
• feeling dizzy, light-headed or faint
  
• feeling sick, indigestion, being sick
  
• sweating or a cold sweat
  
• a sudden feeling of anxiety that can feel like a panic attack
  
• a lot of coughing or wheezing

You may experience just one or a combination of these. Remember, listen to your body. If something is unusual, take it seriously without delay.

It is important that you know the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack and get medical help straight away. The longer you wait to get help, the more dangerous the consequences could very possibly be. You should immediately:

• call 999 for an ambulance
• sit down and stay calm
• chew 300mg aspirin if you have it and you are not allergic
• wait for the ambulance

To help correct diagnosis and treatment, be very clear and honest about your symptoms and do not hesitate to ask questions for clarity and understanding.

Women who have experienced pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, the menopause and a hysterectomy are at higher risk of developing heart disease. However, making healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk for everyone.

One local Consultant Cardiologist and two GP’s share their professional expertise on topics including: the local and national picture for gender disparity in CHD healthcare and outcomes; women-specific CHD risk factors (including the menopause); and the importance of empowering women to care for their heart from a health inequalities perspective.

This is a free health check for adults aged 40 to 74. It looks at your chance of getting heart problems (cardiovascular disease, or CVD) and other health conditions.

It can help spot issues that affect women’s heart health, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

NHS health check