HEART DISEASE is the number one killer of Irish women, the Irish Heart Foundation said yesterday as it announced events for next month to highlight the issue.
Consultant physician Dr Kate McGarry, chairwoman of the foundation’s council on women and cardiovascular disease, said a woman died every two hours in Ireland from heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases: “When it comes to health issues, women are more concerned about breast cancer, even though seven times as many women die from heart disease and stroke in Ireland each year.’’
She said the foundation’s aim was to alert women that they were at risk of heart attack and stroke as much as men, especially after the menopause.
“But the good news is that a positive lifestyle can alter risk factors.’’
Foundation medical director consultant cardiologist Dr Angie Brown said the campaign would also highlight that the signs and symptoms of heart attack could be different for women to those of men.
“A woman may experience more vague symptoms such as nausea, tiredness, shortness of breath, rather than the more usual crushing pain in the chest,’’ she added. “Unfortunately this may mean that women delay in getting to the hospital and, therefore, lose valuable time for the necessary treatment.’’
Next month’s events will include a world heart day sponsored walk and a free blood pressure check at the national ploughing championships.
Celebrities supporting the campaign include TV3 Ireland AMpresenter Sinead Desmond, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, actress Martina Stanley who plays Dolores in RTÉ soap drama Fair City, singer Hazel Kaneswaran and Labour MEP Nessa Childers.
