A&E drive to dispel myth of heart disease as ‘male’ illness

AN education programme is being introduced in accident and emergency & departments to ensure women suffering from heart disease receive the same standard of care as men.

While a woman is more likely to develop coronary heart disease than breast cancer, heart disease is often falsely perceived to be a ‘male’ disease.

Instead of the classic chest pain, women may experience symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, shoulder or neck, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea or vomiting.