![\"Research](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1_Senior-adult-elderly-women-sit-on-bed-with-chest-pain-suffering-from-heart-attack-in-the-bedroomHe.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nOver 50% of women with heart attack symptoms are initially misdiagnosed, often requiring multiple hospital visits before receiving correct treatment.<\/p>\n
Research has revealed that cardiac arrest can look very different for women(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
Many women don’t realise they’re at risk of heart disease <\/a>until it’s too late – and experts have warned outdated stereotypes are partly to blame.<\/p>\n Consultant cardiologist Dr Sorcha Allen of Blackrock Health says over 50% of women with heart attack symptoms<\/a> are initially misdiagnosed because heart disease has long been viewed as a condition that mainly affects men.<\/p>\n Speaking to Dr Caoimhe Hartley as part of the \u2018Her Health\u2019 podcast series, she said women often require multiple hospital visits before receiving the correct treatment.<\/p>\n She explained why recognising the warning signs and understanding the risk factors unique to women could save lives.<\/p>\n The awareness gap<\/p>\n Dr Hartley revealed that Cardiovascular disease kills more women than men each year, yet it’s still widely seen as a predominantly male issue.<\/p>\n Dr Allen advises that this was due to the misconception that stems from decades of clinical trials that focused on men.<\/p>\n Medical training was built on the foundation that heart disease impacts men over the age of 55 with specific, “typical” risk factors.<\/p>\n This has led to the misconception that heart disease isn’t a “woman’s issue” in the same way breast cancer or menopause is.<\/p>\n She also mentioned that because they don’t look like the “classic” male presentation, they can be dismissed or result in delayed diagnosis.<\/p>\n In cardiology, health services are trying to move away from the terms “typical” and “atypical”, because “atypical” symptoms are completely typical for half of the population.<\/p>\n Recognising the symptoms in women<\/p>\n Dr Allen revealed there are many symptoms women can look out for.<\/p>\n The most common symptom is profound fatigue and a decrease in exercise tolerance.<\/p>\n Other symptoms include a shortness of breath during routine activities and sleep disturbances, particularly in the two weeks leading before a heart attack, chest discomfort described as band-like pressure and heartburn in upper abdomen.<\/p>\n Pregnancy and menopause as risk factors<\/p>\n Standard cardiovascular risk calculators assess shared factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, age, smoking and ethnicity but miss risks unique to women.<\/p>\n Dr. Allen said: \u201cWe are missing a standardised, gender-specific risk calculator, because of this, we aren’t screening women as thoroughly as we should be.\u201d<\/p>\n She revealed three critical red flags in pregnancy history that significantly increase cardiovascular risk later in life.<\/p>\n Preeclampsia, eclampsia, or gestational hypertension: Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy are at a significantly higher risk of developing chronic hypertension and heart failure down the line.Gestational diabetes: This incurs a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and general cardiovascular disease later in life.Preterm delivery: Delivering a baby before 37 weeks is directly linked to a higher risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.<\/p>\n She said: “Medical guidelines actually state that any woman who experiences these pregnancy-related complications should receive a cardiovascular screen about six months after delivery.”<\/p>\n Managing symptoms<\/p>\n Dr Allen said: “Palpitations during menopause are often part of benign vasomotor symptoms (like hot flushes).<\/p>\n “However, they become red flags if they are accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, chest tightness or chest pain.<\/p>\n “If palpitations last for a long time and don\u2019t resolve quickly, they need to be checked out to rule out an underlying heart rhythm issue.”<\/p>\n Heart health advice for women in their 40s and 50s<\/p>\n Dr Allen recommends a three-step approach:<\/p>\n Get your blood pressure checked regularly. Do not write off high readings as “white-coat hypertension”\u2014if it\u2019s high, it needs to be managed.Talk to your doctor about your family history of early heart disease, any pregnancy complications you experienced, and any autoimmune\/inflammatory conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus) you may have.Focus on eating whole, fresh foods 80% of the time, and avoid ultra-processed foods. When it comes to exercise, consistency is key. You don’t need to run marathons; 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week is phenomenal. Additionally, include weight-bearing or resistance exercise to protect your bones and muscles.<\/p>\n Listen back to the podcast, \u2018Heart Health in Women: When Symptoms Are Missed, Dismissed or Delayed\u201d on Spotify and other major podcast platforms<\/a>.<\/p>\n