Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide.\u00a0Yet, it remains understudied, under\u2013diagnosed, and under\u2013treated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While women are almost 50 per cent more likely than men to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack, heart disease is often considered to be a \u2018male issue\u2019.<\/p>\n
To understand why this gap still exists and to shine a light on the topic, Dr. Caoimhe Hartley, Clinical Lead Women\u2019s Medicine and GP sat down with Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Sorcha Allen as part of the \u2018Her Health\u2019 series from Blackrock Health.<\/p>\n
The podcast, Heart Health in Women: When Symptoms Are Missed, Dismissed or Delayed explores critical, nuanced conditions that significantly impact women\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
\u2018If you polled people on the street, very few would know that more women die of heart disease every year than men,\u2019 says Dr Sorcha Allen.<\/p>\n
\u2018Historically, the very large clinical trials conducted over the last 20 to 30 years predominantly focused on men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Consequently, medical training was built on the foundation that heart disease impacts men over the age of 55 with specific, \u201ctypical\u201d risk factors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘This has led to the misconception that heart disease isn\u2019t a \u201cwoman\u2019s issue\u201d in the same way breast\u00a0cancer<\/a> or menopause<\/a> is.<\/p>\n Things to watch for: checking blood pressure is important<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2018We are taught to look out for typical heart disease symptoms such as central, crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw or left arm. While some women do experience this, the vast majority present with much more subtle symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Because they don\u2019t look like the \u201cclassic\u201d male presentation, they can be dismissed or result in delayed diagnosis. In cardiology, we are trying to move away from the terms \u201ctypical\u201d and \u201catypical\u201d, because \u201catypical\u201d symptoms are completely typical for half of the population,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n Profound fatigue and a decrease in the ability to exercise are two of the main symptoms Dr Allen sees in the course of her work.<\/p>\n \u2018Shortness of breath and sleep disturbances are also highly common, particularly in the two weeks leading up to a heart attack.<\/p>\n When women do experience chest discomfort, they often describe it not as crushing pain, but as a band\u2013like pressure, or even as something resembling indigestion or heartburn in the upper abdomen,\u2019 says Dr Allen.\u00a0<\/p>\n She adds that women are far more likely to have their symptoms dismissed or attributed to anxiety, gastrointestinal issues like indigestion, or musculoskeletal pain which can contribute to worsened outcomes in the long\u2013term.<\/p>\n Dr. Allen says there are three things women can do to help themselves.<\/p>\n \u2018Firstly Get your blood pressure checked regularly. Do not write off high readings as \u201cwhite\u2013coat hypertension\u201d \u2013 if it\u2019s high, it needs to be managed,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Talk 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘And thirdly focus on eating whole, fresh foods 80% of the time, and avoid ultra\u2013processed foods. When it comes to exercise, consistency is key. You don\u2019t need to run marathons; 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week is phenomenal. Additionally, include weight\u2013bearing or resistance exercise to protect your bones and muscles.<\/p>\n \u2018Most importantly, listen to your body and advocate for yourself. Women are highly prone to minimising their symptoms because they are busy caring for children, careers and aging parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘If you feel exhausted, breathless, or just \u201coff,\u201d do not dismiss it. If you feel like your concerns are being brushed aside by a doctor, seek a second opinion. No one will ever fault you for ruling out a serious cardiac issue.\u2019<\/p>\n![\"Things](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/06\/19\/18\/109474589-0-image-a-16_1781890159551.jpg\")
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