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Cardiovascular disease (an umbrella term that includes heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease) is the leading cause of death for women globally.
Almost every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of heart disease.
Heart disease in women can occur at any age but the risk changes throughout life’s course.
Women are less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation, less likely to take their medicine regularly, and are less likely to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
For women aged 45 and over (or 30 and over for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women), speak to your GP about your risk of heart attack and stroke and have a Heart Health Check.
Almost every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of coronary heart disease. On average that equates to 20 women a day.
Research shows that women are much less likely to undergo treatment for heart attack or angina (chest pain) in hospital compared to men.
For women, the risk of cardiovascular disease changes throughout life’s course. It’s important to be aware of the risk factors that specifically affect women, and what you can do to look after your heart health2.
SCAD is an example of a condition that occurs more frequently in women.
It occurs when a split suddenly develops between the inner layers of a coronary artery. Blood flows into this space and reduces the amount of blood flowing through the artery. This means less blood and oxygen reach the heart.
The symptoms of SCAD are similar to those of a heart attack or angina (chest pain). Most people who have SCAD have few or no known risk factors.
Recognising the warning signs of a heart attack, and getting treatment as quickly as possible, is important for women of all ages.
For more information on SCAD see the following videos:
Video: Jen had a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) at 36, shortly after having her first child
Video: Learn more about Liza's experience of spontaneous coronary artery dissection
Video: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection - the little known face of heart disease
Pregnancy is often referred to as the ‘ultimate stress test’ for the body. Some of the complications of pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Find out how pregnancy complications can contribute to cardiovascular risk in women.
Know the full range of risk factors and warning signs of a heart attack in women.
If you are aged 45 and over (or 30 and over for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women) speak to your GP about your risk of heart attack and stroke and have a Heart Health Check.
Women of any age may be diagnosed with a heart condition. What happens next can be dependent on the type of heart condition.
Many people who have been diagnosed with a heart condition go on to live long, full lives. However, it's important to make lifestyle changes to manage your heart health over the longer term.
If you have been discharged from hospital after a diagnosis or a procedure, the steps to recovery are likely to be:
regular Heart Health Checks with your doctor
referral to a cardiac rehabilitation program
taking medicine
making changes to your lifestyle like diet and exercise
you can register for the free Heart Foundation support program: My Heart, My Life program
Our Supporting Young Hearts program provides opportunities for young people to connect with each other, share stories and learn about how to manage their heart condition.
Achieving a healthy body weight is one of the best things you can do to improve your heart health and wellbeing. While there’s a lot of information out there about weight and weight loss, this can actually make harder to know what a healthy weight is and how to achieve it.
Moving more every day is one of the best habits you can have.
Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. Your blood pressure will go up and down naturally throughout the day depending on what you are doing, especially if you are doing exercise.
Last updated15 February 2024