There is a definite gender gap when it comes to heart health, and it is evident in many areas. Please check out my accompanying video too.
Women have
- Less representation in heart research trials
- Longer time to diagnosis of heart problems
- 50% higher chance of an incorrect diagnosis of heart attack
- Lower uptake of heart medication
- Less access to diagnostic tests
- Less numbers training in cardiology
- Less understanding of potential heart symptoms
I do not think the disparity is any one person or organisation’s fault, but is probably a reflection of wider unconscious bias. By raising awareness hopefully we can start to combat the problem. I would love to think by the time my daughter is an adult she lives in a world where her heart health will not be disadvantaged by her gender.
Women with the same risk factors as men actually often have a higher chance of developing a heart attack. They are also less likely to present for health checks, and less likely to manage their risk factors properly, particularly after they have had a heart attack. Women with a history of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy have double the risk of coronary heart disease later in life.
It is estimated that 7 million women in the UK have high blood pressure, with nearly 2.5 million undiagnosed.
If you haven’t had your blood pressure measured in the last 6 months – please do it this week, whatever your gender!
There are nearly 2 million women with diabetes in the UK, have you had a diabetes check?
Nearly half of all women have a cholesterol above the recommended guidelines! When was yours last checked?
All these statistics tell us that women are likely to hugely underestimate their own personal risk of heart disease. I am a huge believer in preventative medicine, and step one is to recognise there may be an issue.