Heart Disease in Women is a Problem

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Australian women. Yet, if you’re like most women, you’re probably unaware of the threat. You may even think it’s a “man’s problem” — even though the fatality rate is almost as high.

“There’s a big gap between what women fear and what really endangers them,” says researcher Ann Taubenheim. “Even if they know about some of the factors that increase the risk for heart disease, they still don’t connect the dots and understand that it’s their life that’s in jeopardy.”

Start Heart Disease Prevention Early

Women are very good at watching out for the health of their family, but not so good at watching out for their own well-being. There are many ways heart health can be supported over time.

Heart disease is often discussed as an immediate concern, and conversations with a health professional commonly include discussion of personal risk, ways risk may be reduced, and how existing conditions are monitored.

Medical Considerations

Coronary heart disease is the main form of heart disease. It affects the coronary arteries of the heart. Often referred to as heart disease, it develops over many years and may begin early, even in adolescence.

If steps are not taken to prevent or treat it, heart disease can lead to serious complications, including angina (chest pain), heart failure (in which the heart loses its ability to function well), and heart attack. About two-thirds of the women who have a heart attack do not make a full recovery.

Heart Attack Warning Signs in Women

One reason heart disease is missed in women is that symptoms are not always the classic “crushing chest pain” people expect. Women may have chest discomfort, but may also notice symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, unusual fatigue, or pain in the jaw, neck, back, or shoulder. If symptoms are sudden, severe, or worsening, treat it as urgent and seek emergency help.

For a clear overview of warning signs, see the Heart Foundation guidance on heart attack warning signs.

Risk Factors, Including Age

Certain factors increase the risk of developing heart disease. These are:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Overweight/obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Diabetes
• Family history of early heart disease
• Age (for women, 55 and older).

Age is important because women’s risk of heart disease starts to rise during middle age, in part because of the drop in estrogen levels that comes with menopause. But middle age also is when many women develop heart disease risk factors.

Exercise, Nutrition and Other Measures

Fortunately, except for age and family history, the risk factors can be prevented or controlled by lifestyle patterns and, if needed, medication. Sometimes special procedures, such as bypass surgery and angioplasty, are used to treat heart disease. But they are not a “cure.” Heart disease and its risk factors must still be controlled.

“We’re not asking women to overhaul their lives overnight,” said Taubenheim. “We’re saying, ‘Make a start.’

Regular walking is commonly discussed as a simple everyday activity associated with heart health, with people often building up duration over time as part of their routine.

Some people find it easier to stay consistent when activity feels concrete rather than abstract. Using a simple reference such as energy used during a mile of walking can help put everyday movement into perspective without requiring a formal exercise program.

For nutrition, an overall heart-healthy pattern is often described in terms of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and minimally processed proteins, along with lower saturated fat, added sugars, and excess salt. Consistency over time tends to matter more than isolated changes.

Resources and Facts

Taubenheim stresses that women can make these heart-healthy changes with their family. In fact, the sooner heart-healthy habits are learned, the better.

The Heart Truth campaign has plenty of resources to help women adopt a healthier lifestyle. Many are available through the campaign’s website. It includes personal stories from women whose lives have been affected by heart disease.

Heart disease facts

• Heart disease, including coronary heart disease, is a leading cause of death for Australian women (see AIHW).
• Around one in every 6 deaths for Australian women is from heart disease — a far higher rate than for breast cancer.
• Women’s heart disease risk starts to rise in middle age.
• One in eight Australian women aged 45-64, and one in three women over 65, have some form of heart disease.
• Nearly two-thirds of Australian women who die suddenly of a heart attack have no prior symptoms.
• About two-thirds of Australian woman women who have a heart attack do not make a full recovery.