Free heart checks for women in May
Free heart checks for women are being offered in Hastings each Monday in May, to promote women’s heart health.
Heart Foundation NZ says more than 50 New Zealand women die each week from heart disease, making it the single biggest cause of death for women in New Zealand.
Women and men largely share the same risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and family history.
However, women are more likely than men to experience a heart attack without chest pain or discomfort.
An international study published in 2020 concludes that women under the age of 55 can experience different heart attack symptoms to men.
Heart Foundation medical director Dr Gerry Devlin says this research provides important information on symptoms which may be different on occasions among women.
“Awareness of this and improved awareness of the less typical symptoms can hopefully prevent missed diagnoses of heart attacks in women.
“Women are also less likely to call an ambulance than men, often dismissing their symptoms as something else.
“If you have any kind of worrying symptoms, it’s important to seek help and call an ambulance immediately for prolonged symptoms,” says Gerry.
To promote women’s heart health, the foundation is holding free weekly heart check sessions at the Heretaunga Women’s Centre throughout May. These will be held Monday, May 17, 24 and 31 from 11am to 2pm.
Hawke’s Bay heart health advocate Donna Congalton says the heart check tool is open to everyone, but works best for those aged 30-75.
To receive the free check, pop into the Heretaunga Women’s Centre at the selected times.