What every woman needs to know about heart disease — The House of Wellness

Sarah Harrison was working a busy shift in a Melbourne bar when her life changed in March 2019.

The then 26-year-old had no major health problems, she ate well, exercised, and says she was probably “the fittest” she’d ever been.

“But that night, out of nowhere, I started feeling quite sluggish,” Sarah recalls.

“About 10 seconds later I passed out and woke up in hospital.

“I’d been in a coma for a day or two but had no recollection of what had happened.

“It was terrifying.”

Sarah suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and the quick reactions of her colleagues and an off-duty nurse in the bar who performed CPR saved her.

Scans showed Sarah had an abnormality in the mitral valve in her heart that was affecting her heart function.

Sarah was initially fitted with a defibrillator to shock her heart and restore a normal heartbeat whenever her heart stopped or went out of rhythm, and now has a pacemaker.

She is careful to listen to her body and not push herself too far.

“A heart issue can come out of nowhere so it’s important women listen to their body and get checked if they feel something is wrong,” Sarah says.

“Your heart health isn’t something you can overlook.”

Heart disease in women

Coronary heart disease is the second highest cause of death for Australian women.

Around 20 women a day die from heart disease, stroke and blood vessel disease but there is still a long way to go to ensure women recognise their heart health risks and signs of heart disease.

“I think heart disease is still seen predominantly as a male problem,” Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute cardiologist Dr Liz Paratz.

“Historically that used to be the case but many women are at risk, too.”

About 40 per cent of heart attacks in women are fatal, and a US study has observed a rising trend in younger female patients.

What causes heart disease in women?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking increase the risk of heart disease.

“Gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure can also be risk factors for future heart disease,” Dr Paratz says.

Women can also become more susceptible to heart issues after menopause when they lose oestrogen that reduces the build-up of plaque in the arteries that increases the risk of heart attack.

Cardiologist Professor Peter Barlis at the University of Melbourne says women are also more susceptible to two particular conditions – spontaneous coronary artery dissection and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or “broken heart syndrome”.

SCAD happens due to a split or tear between the layers of one of the coronary arteries that result in less blood and oxygen reaching the heart muscle.

While rare, SCAD is a serious condition that can result in angina, heart attack, abnormalities in heart rhythm or sudden death.

The causes are clear, but women in their 40s and 50s are most at risk.

Broken heart syndrome can occur due to significant emotional or physical stress, resulting in weakening of the heart muscle.

The symptoms are similar to a heart attack, but in most cases any change to the heart is temporary and most people recover completely.

Symptoms of heart disease in women

“It is important for women to be aware that symptoms of heart disease may be different from those commonly experienced by men and they should immediately seek medical attention to assess their risk and monitor for signs of heart disease,” Prof Barlis says.

In women, heart disease symptoms may present as neck pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, nausea or generally feeling unwell.

“Regularly monitor and assess your heart risk by speaking with your GP and addressing any identified risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.

“In some cases, tests may be needed to better evaluate symptoms and your overall risk,” he says..

— originally published by The House of Wellness, 2 February 2023 (Author: Sarah Marinos)