HeartLife Foundation

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, but women continue to be underdiagnosed, undertreated, and often unheard. Symptoms can present differently in women for example, instead of “classic” chest pain, many women may experience nausea, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, or even jaw and back pain during a heart attack.ii These symptoms can go unnoticed or be misdiagnosed as anxiety or stress. As we mark #WorldHeartRhythmWeek, it’s a timely reminder that understanding the full spectrum of cardiovascular symptoms, including those related to heart rhythm disorders, is crucial for faster and accurate diagnosis, especially in women. Neil Johnson, Executive Director at Global Heart Hub, shares his insights on how a lack of awareness among women of their symptoms can contribute to the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Watch the video below to learn more about the key CVD risk factors and unique types of symptoms that disproportionally affect women 👇

“Looking back, I wish I had thought cardiomyopathy”. Cardiomyopathy can hide in conditions like arrhythmias (which can feel like panic attacks), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), heart failure, unexplained fainting or asthma. As patient advocates from our community reflect on their cardiomyopathy journeys, they share their experiences of misdiagnoses. Chloe was experiencing heart palpitations, fatigue, and chest tightness on and off for months before going to the hospital. Greg thought he was having panic attacks when he was actually having dangerous arrhythmias. Understanding Cardiomyopathy and knowing the symptoms could save your life Let’s protect the hearts that matter most. ❤️ For more information, visit: globalhearthub.org/cardiomyo… #ThinkCardiomyopathy #CardiomyopathyAwareness #KnowYourFamilyHistory @cmanz_au @ArvcSelbsthilfe @LmnaCardiac @AISC2016 @SADSUK @Cardiomyopathy @CCFheartkids @DCM_Foundation @AAHFN @MendedHearts @WomenHeartOrg @CroiHeartStroke @HFWarriorNI1 @HeartHealthInd @arbelo_e @anitasabidi