British Heart Foundation

[Marie3811]

Hi All

The British Heart Foundation conducted a study and I helped contribute to this

If you get a moment please take a read of the full report which can be found at this link

bhf.org.uk/women

Best Wishes

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Marie

Thank you for sharing this with us all.

The BHF Bias and Biology Brief and how gender effects outcomes is becoming. more widely recognised

The BHF in Scotland issued a brief too.

bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-...

[Marie3811 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milk Fairy Thanks for sharing and agreed I didn’t realise it was such a wide spread issue I’m glad positive action is been made

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

As a man I was wondering if the report highlights a postcode lottery like cardic rehab. I have only personally known three cases in women in over three decades and all received prompt and efficient treatment. The only other case was an eighteen year old woman who died from "sudden death syndrome". I live in Hertfordshire.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Michael

I feel it maybe a little more than just a postcode lottery.

I had a conversation with the Head of Cardiology at my local hospital who has been very supportive to me and ensured I now receive the care I need.

He without prompting brought up the issue of unconscious bias in Cardiology regarding women patients and how he wished to address the issue.

[Maisie2014]

About time someone took notice. I wouldn’t be here now if my daughter hadn’t pushed the nursing staff to put me on a monitor albeit three days after my heart attack. EVERYONE said I had strained myself.

[francesw47]

Thanks for posting this Marie. I saw an article about this in yesterday's paper ... not on the front page but tucked away on page 5.

Its really important that this issue is brought to light. The research identifies over 8,000 deaths of women all of which may have been preventable deaths.

Its also important that women learn about heart disease, symptoms that may be atypical and also learn how to persist in asking for help. Several of my friends (we are also slightly older, which I'm afraid brings a shower of patronising comments such as being called 'my lovely' etc) have been dismissed as 'anxious' when, in fact, there were underlying health concerns.

Thanks for posting.

Frances

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to francesw47]

Interestingly, this study says women didn’t suffer atypical symptoms. I always thought we did.

It also said that women wait longer to access help, and that can really effect outcome. Now, we CAN do something about that!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi Kristin

Some recent research suggested that women do feel the same central chest pain as men do it is being somehow overlooked by everyone.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

[Sunnie2day in reply to Milkfairy]

I do, and my cardiologist tells me it's one of the reasons he finds me 'interesting'. It's a little funny but 100% super that he does in my opinion - I'm seen quickly, more attention is paid when I have a new symptom, tests are booked sooner...

[Marie3811 in reply to Kristin1812]

Just want to help spread much awareness as possible 💖 so hopefully it can save more lives

[Hidden]

I thought it was already realised/known that women have generally been less well taken care of in the NHS? I've known for quite a few years

[Marie3811 in reply to Hidden]

I wasn’t aware this was the case so this study really brought awareness hopefully now with the campaign running this will reinforce awareness

[Sunnie2day in reply to Marie3811]

Generally I think it is well-know(ish) but I also think every bit of reinforcing that general knowledge is important. Awareness campaigns are important - look what the pink ribbon campaign did for breast cancer. I look forward to the day women's heart health issues awareness campaigns are a national annual event along the same lines.

I lived in the USA when the Go Red (to make the public aware of women's heart health issues) campaign kicked off in the late 90s with the Red Dress badge sales (yes, I still have mine ) and wish something similar was on over here - when I wore my Red Dress badge, people often asked what it was about; when I wear my BHF broken heart badge nowadays here in the UK I am frequently asked about it. If we Lady Hearties were out and about with a specific-to-women heart health badge I know we would be asked about it and would be able to contribute to awareness levels.

[Marie3811 in reply to Sunnie2day]

This sounds like a brilliant idea 💡 whatever can be done to spread awareness - I like the idea of this badge a great talk point we need to get together for a meet and discussion

[Sillyfroggy]

I have definitely suffered from unconscious bias - both in an A and E setting and also with a cardiologist. I had an event a year before my heart attack which my current medical team are sure was cardiac. When I saw a consultant eventually he was very dismissive and gave me the impression I was time wasting. Interestingly, the paramedics who attended when I did have my heart attack were also very nonchalant, and said ‘this isn’t cardiac’ right up until the 12-lead said otherwise very bluntly!

I genuinely think there is some prejudice amongst some HCP around women around the menopause, and blaming it all on that or women being the overly worried well.

In turn I feel this leads to us avoiding going to the doctor, and ignoring symptoms for longer. I had what I now know was classic angina for 4 days prior to my heart attack, but if hadn’t ended in a heart attack there’s no way I would have gone to GP.

I’m not sure the symptoms are always atypical, the thing that has struck me is the symptoms are far milder and low key and certainly in my case took several hours before I realised I was ‘big sick’ and called 999. I have genuinely had worse periods!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Good points well made!

[Marie3811 in reply to Sillyfroggy]

I had the same with paramedics they didn’t think or mention it could be a heart attack which is worrying but hopefully this study will help to spread more awareness and even if the signs aren’t all evident of ECG they should pursue this until they find out the cause

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Yes, this publicity hopefully will raise awareness for health care professionals to be evenhanded...man or woman.

Someone mentioned that women generally have milder symptoms.....yet paramedics etc always use a pain scale (1-10 usually). I have to add

‘my symptoms never scored high, even when I had my 3 heart attacks.’

My usual 2 or 3 doesn’t impress them!

My strangest symptom which set my HAs aside from just angina attack, was a sensation of impending doom!

Apparently it’s not that rare.

[Marie3811 in reply to Kristin1812]

I hope so I have contributed to another article which I will share sorry to hear this

[isobelhannah18]

Thanks for sharing this. It's really valuable research. Having said that I had atypical symptoms and have had fantastic swift care from everyone I came into contact with in the N.H.S!

[Marie3811 in reply to isobelhannah18]

No problem thanks I have another article that I will post

[Goldfish7]

Thanks for the post. I too found with my cardiologist that my heart condition was minimised NSTEMI type II -in hospital 7 days. The original consultants diagnosed a heart attack (suspiciously in view of later events kept saying and don't let anyone tell you it is not a heart attack) and then when I finally saw my cardiologist 6 months later he said I hadn't had a heart attack and would not be getting the support others were getting re HA nurse and exercise/information programme. He also minimised the effects of my very violent PAF attacks and did not provide any information or treatment plan - this eventually came from an ICU general consultant after I had been admitted to hospital a number of times with severe PAF with very high heart rate.

I tend to get pain in my neck and jaw when my heart is under strain rather than my chest which just feels a little congested.