Heart disease is one of the leading cause of death for women in Australia—killing more women than breast cancer, COVID, car accidents or Alzheimer’s. Yet even with growing awareness, many women are still blindsided when a cardiac event happens to them.
“We don’t talk to women enough about their risk of heart issues—plus, women are often busy looking after others, and their symptoms aren’t always the classic ones they’ve heard about,” says Dr Martha Gulati, “That can make it harder for women to even consider that it could be their heart.”
The result? Missed chances to save lives. Women have the same heart attack risk as men, but are twice as likely to die from one. Don’t rely on luck, and don’t hesitate to seek emergency help. “We’d rather check you and say ‘This isn’t a heart attack’ than have you stay home and risk dying because you didn’t want to bother anyone,” says Dr Gulati.
Here’s how to improve your odds.
1. Know the symptoms.
Chest pain, tightness or pressure are the most well-known signs of a heart attack, and about three-quarters of people—men and women—experience them. But women often have extra symptoms, including nausea, sweating, feeling generally unwell and extreme fatigue. These can easily be mistaken for a panic attack, stress or poor sleep.
“Heart attacks are great mimics,” says cardiologist and health researcher Dr Harlan Krumholz.
Research shows that 85% of women under 55 who’ve had heart attacks had other warning signs—like unusual tiredness, trouble sleeping, anxiety or pain in the arms—weeks or even months before the event. Tune in to your body and trust your instincts when something feels off, says Dr Krumholz.
2. Call Triple Zero (000).
If you notice symptoms, act fast. One study found that women took an average of an hour to call emergency services, compared to 45 minutes for men—and those extra minutes can be critical.
After you call 000, chew an aspirin to help reduce blood clotting until proper treatment is available, advises cardiologist Dr Dara Lee Lewis. If you’re indoors, unlock the front door in case you lose consciousness before help arrives. While unlikely, it’s better to be safe.
Try not to let worry about others delay your decision—a surprising number of women hesitate to call for help because they’re thinking of the people who rely on them. “Women still carry a disproportionate burden of caring for parents and children and that can get in the way,” says Dr Krumholz. “But as they say on planes, you’ve got to put on your own oxygen mask first.”
3. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital—or let someone else drive you—to the hospital.
“It might seem easier to drive yourself,” says Dr Lewis, “but it’s a bit like playing Russian roulette.” In the first 24 hours after a heart attack, there’s a real risk that you could become unstable—and if that happens, you’re much safer in an ambulance than in a car. “You need trained medical staff with you,” she says.
Paramedics can run an electrocardiogram (ECG) to confirm whether you’re having a heart attack and begin treatment on the spot. If needed, they’ll alert the hospital in advance to prepare for emergency intervention.
“If you’re having a heart attack, paramedics can get you to the cardiac cath lab faster, and the blocked artery can be treated quickly,” says Dr Lewis. “The sooner it’s opened, the lower your risk of lasting heart damage.”
4. Speak up—and don't hold back.
Gender bias still gets in the way of proper treatment. Research shows women aged 55 and under wait about 95 minutes on average for heart attack care in hospital, compared to 80 minutes for men. You should be given an ECG (electrocardiogram) and a blood test for troponin, which shows whether the heart muscle has been damaged.
If the hospital team seems hesitant to act, don’t stay quiet. “Be direct and clear about your symptoms and your concern,” says Dr Krumholz. “You’re not being difficult—you’re saving your life. Say, ‘I think I’m having a heart attack and I need an ECG.’”
Avoid playing down your symptoms with lines like “It’s probably just indigestion,” adds Dr Lewis. “Speak up the way you would if it were your sister or best friend.”
5. Stick this on the fridge!
Yes, really. Move that old magnet poetry and the expired takeaway menu. Print this out and pop it on the fridge where you’ll see it. Read it now and again. It might just save your life—or someone else’s.
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