Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australian women, yet it remains under-recognised. The patterns of disease and the way symptoms present can differ from men, and women are more likely to be diagnosed late.
Different patterns, different symptoms
Women are more likely than men to have:
- Atypical heart attack symptoms — fatigue, breathlessness, nausea, jaw or back pain rather than central chest pain
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), particularly in younger women
- Coronary microvascular dysfunction — angina with normal-looking arteries on angiogram
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
Risk factors that matter more in women
Some traditional risk factors carry greater weight in women, and there are female-specific risk factors that are easy to miss in routine history-taking:
- Pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or pregnancy-induced hypertension
- Premature menopause (before age 40)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
What to do if you are concerned
If you have unexplained breathlessness, exertional chest discomfort, or a strong family history of premature cardiovascular disease, ask your GP for a cardiovascular risk assessment. Specialist review is appropriate when symptoms are persistent, when risk is intermediate-to-high, or when there are female-specific risk factors that warrant a more detailed conversation.