Heart disease number one killer in women

Heart attack survivor Charlotte Heaphey (third from right) with (from left) actress Martina Stanley, TV presenter SInead Desmond, former MIss World Rosanna Davison, Nessa Childers MEP and singer Hazel Kaneswaren

Heart disease is the number one killer of Irish women, according to the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF), whose message for September is, ‘This is not a red dress; it’s a red alert!’

The IHF launched the campaign to get the message across to women that heart disease is not just a man’s disease, but that as many women, at least 5,000 each year, die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) as men.

The new campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the symptoms of heart attack amongst women.

According to Dr Kate McGarry, consultant physician and Chair of the Irish Heart Foundation’s Council on Women and CVD, every two hours a woman dies in Ireland from cardiovascular disease.

“When it comes to health issues, women are more concerned about breast cancer even though seven times as many women die from heart disease and stroke in Ireland each year. Our goal is to alert women that, especially after the menopause, they are at risk of heart attack and stroke, as much as any man,” said Dr McGarry, who stressed that the good news was that a positive lifestyle can alter risk factors for CVD.

“Go Red for Women is a wake-up call to every woman in Ireland to take care of her heart health,” she added.

IHF Medical Director Dr Angie Brown said the campaign also aims to highlight that the signs and symptoms of heart attack may be different for women. “A woman may experience more vague symptoms such as nausea, tiredness or shortness of breath, rather than the more usual crushing pain in the chest. Unfortunately this may mean that women delay in getting to the hospital and therefore lose valuable time for the necessary treatment.”

A live webcast of a public lecture will also take place in the RCPI on September 14 at 6.30pm, which will address heart disease in women, reducing risk, diet and weight management, menopause, diabetes and a patient story.