Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 35% of deaths in women each year – more than ALL cancers combined. It can affect women of any age. Yet, CVD in women continues to be seriously understudied, under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated. This is primarily the result of various misconceptions, including the widespread view that cardiovascular disease affects men more than it does women.
On International Women’s Day, WHF is addressing some of these misconceptions on our social media channels to empower women with a clearer understanding of their risk factors and to advocate for better recognition of CVD as the leading cause of death in women. The more women know about heart disease, the better their chance of beating it.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. However, women with CVD continue to be under-diagnosed and under-treated due to misconceptions and lack of awareness among both healthcare practitioners and the general public. The fact that women continue to be under-represented in clinical trials is one of the reasons why there is insufficient awareness among female patients and their doctors.
Some heart disease symptoms in women can differ from those in men, which leads to women being more frequently misdiagnosed, or their symptoms dismissed as anxiety-related. Because women’s heart attack symptoms can differ from men’s, women might be diagnosed less often with heart disease. Knowing your symptoms is the first step to beating cardiovascular disease!
In a new video just released today, Dr Sanne Peters, member of the WHF Science Committee and Senior Lecturer at The George Institute for Global Health, uncovers common myths about women and cardiovascular disease. She highlights the risk factors that play a major role in the development of CVD among women, including diabetes, menopause or pregnancy complications.
Visit our Women & CVD webpage to learn more and help us spread the word on Twitter/X by sharing this post!
