Women’s health week- Heart Smart: Raising Awareness of Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is often considered a “man’s issue,” but the reality is that women are just as at risk, and in many cases, the symptoms, risks, and consequences are quite different. As part of Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week 2025, the theme “Heart Smart” calls attention to this overlooked health issue and encourages women to take charge of their heart health.
Though cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death for women globally, awareness and action remain disproportionately low. It's time to change that narrative, educate ourselves and others, and take proactive steps toward heart health.
The Heart Disease Gender Gap
Historically, heart disease has been under-researched in women, with much of the data focusing on men. This has led to a lack of recognition of how heart disease manifests in women, potentially resulting in delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, and poorer outcomes for women.
In fact, women tend to experience different symptoms of heart disease than men, and those symptoms can be more subtle or even easily dismissed. According to the American Heart Association, while men often experience the classic chest pain or discomfort associated with a heart attack, women might feel:
Shortness of breath
Unusual fatigue
Nausea or dizziness
Back or jaw pain
Indigestion-like symptoms
These symptoms may not immediately raise red flags, leading women to dismiss or misinterpret them. As a result, they might delay seeking medical help or not receive timely and accurate treatment. The fact that women’s heart disease symptoms often present differently makes it even more essential to raise awareness about these gender differences.
Key Statistics on Women and Heart Disease
To understand why raising awareness is so critical, let's consider some evidence-based statistics:
Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined:
According to the Heart Foundation, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Australian women, accounting for about 30% of all female deaths. This means that heart disease claims more lives than breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer combined.Women are more likely to die after a heart attack:
Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has shown that women are more likely to die after a heart attack than men, even when controlling for other factors like age and comorbidities. This could be due to delayed diagnosis, more advanced disease at the time of presentation, and differences in how women’s heart disease is treated.Risk increases after menopause:
After menopause, women experience a significant increase in heart disease risk. According to a 2022 study in The Lancet, postmenopausal women face a higher risk of coronary artery disease due to declining levels of estrogen, a hormone that has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.Women’s heart disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated:
Studies, including those from Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health, have shown that women are often underdiagnosed for heart disease compared to men, especially in the early stages. Women are also less likely to receive aggressive treatment for heart disease, such as coronary artery bypass surgery or stent placement, even when their disease is just as severe.Women’s heart health is impacted by social factors:
Women’s heart health is also significantly influenced by social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, race, and access to healthcare. For example, Black women have a higher incidence of heart disease and higher rates of death from heart-related conditions. Disparities in healthcare access can lead to delayed diagnoses, fewer preventive measures, and less effective treatments for women from lower-income or marginalized communities.
How to Raise Awareness and Take Action
With these facts in mind, Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week 2025 presents a powerful opportunity to raise awareness and take action on heart disease in women. Here’s how we can all contribute to making heart health a priority:
1. Educate Yourself and Others
The first step in tackling heart disease in women is awareness. Share the information you’ve learned about the gender differences in heart disease with friends, family, and colleagues. The more we understand the risks and symptoms, the better equipped we are to spot early signs and seek appropriate care.
Host a Heart Smart event during Women’s Health Week, whether it’s an informational talk, a social media campaign, or a discussion with healthcare providers. Focus on educating about the early signs of heart disease in women, preventive measures, and how to get regular heart health screenings.
2. Promote Preventive Care
Prevention is always better than treatment. Encourage women in your community to regularly monitor their heart health by getting check-ups that include:
Blood pressure checks
Cholesterol level screenings
Diabetes tests
Body mass index (BMI) assessments
Make it clear that these preventive measures can catch early signs of heart disease long before more severe symptoms appear. Encourage regular exercise, a healthy diet, and quitting smoking—all of which are foundational to cardiovascular health.
3. Highlight the Importance of Recognizing Symptoms Early
Early recognition is key to saving lives. Women often experience different heart disease symptoms than men, so it’s critical that we educate ourselves to notice the signs, such as unexplained fatigue, dizziness, or indigestion-like pain. Encourage women to seek help immediately if they experience any unusual symptoms, particularly if they have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity, or diabetes.
4. Encourage Women to Lead Health Conversations
Women should feel empowered to ask the right questions during doctor visits. Encourage women to bring up heart disease concerns with their healthcare providers. Some important questions to ask include:
“What are my risks for heart disease?”
“Should I be screened for heart disease given my age, family history, and lifestyle?”
“What lifestyle changes can I make to reduce my risk?”
Encourage women to advocate for themselves, especially if they feel their symptoms are not being taken seriously.
5. Support Research and Advocacy for Women’s Heart Health
Support and advocate for research that focuses on heart disease in women. Many organizations, such as the Heart Foundation and the American Heart Association, work tirelessly to raise awareness about women’s cardiovascular health. Contribute to their campaigns, share their research, and push for more funding into gender-specific cardiovascular health studies.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Get Heart Smart
As we celebrate Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week 2025, we have a unique opportunity to bring heart disease in women to the forefront. Women’s heart health has often been overshadowed by other conditions, but with the right education, prevention, and advocacy, we can make a difference.
Heart disease does not discriminate, but with awareness, early detection, and proactive care, we can reduce its impact. Let’s come together to raise awareness, take charge of our heart health, and remind the world that women’s hearts matter.
So, are you heart smart? Share what you’ve learned, take action for yourself, and encourage others to do the same. Together, we can make a meaningful change.
What steps will you take to ensure your heart is in good health?