Heart disease is the biggest killer of women. Globally it will affect 1 in 3 women, and in Australia we lose 1 woman every hour.
Did you know that women experience unique symptoms of heart attack? About 40% of women won’t experience severe chest pain. So, it’s critical to know the female specific signs and seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of heart attack in women:
- Unusual pain in your neck, chest, shoulder, jaw, abdomen and/or through to your back
- Feeling short of breath, sweaty
- Racing of your heart or feeling of “fluttering”
- Lightheadedness
- Extreme fatigue and nausea
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, then you should get immediate medical attention.
Women juggle many demands and typically prioritise others over themselves. However, while it can be difficult to put yourself first, dismissing heart attack symptoms by thinking they’ll just go away results in women not receiving medical care quickly enough.
Her Heart Wallet Card
Health professionals talk about “time being muscle”, which means the longer you delay seeking medical treatment for a heart attack the greater the risk of heart muscle damage. Learning what the early warning signs of a heart attack are, and what to do should they arise, can help you seek treatment sooner.
NOTE: The Her Heart Wallet Card emergency phone number is only available within Australia.