All Irish women should know the signs of a heart attack

Croí, the Heart & Stroke Charity in Ireland, and Global Heart Hub (GHH) are urging women in Ireland to become aware of the signs.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death of women in Ireland, with 1 in 4 women dying from cardiovascular disease.

Yet this survey has revealed that women across the country may be less informed about the risks and symptoms compared to men.

While many women believed they would recognise the signs of a heart attack, only 3% were able to name all relevant symptoms.

And less than 1% could accurately name the symptoms without naming any wrong ones.

Additionally, only 1 in 2 were aware that the critical warning signs in women may differ from those in men. The survey was conducted in March 2025 and included 502 women aged over 18 across Ireland.

What are the signs of a heart attack in a woman?

According to the HSE, the main symptoms to beware of include discomfort in your chest that comes on suddenly and doesn’t go away.

• the pain or discomfort may spread to one or both of your arms
• pain may spread to your neck, jaw, back, or stomach
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing with or without chest discomfort
• feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint
• feeling sick, indigestion, being sick
• sweating or cold sweats
• a sudden feeling of anxiety that can feel like a panic attack
• a lot of coughing or wheezing

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women worldwide, with coronary heart disease claiming more than twice as many lives as breast cancer. 

Despite these alarming statistics, women are less informed about the risks and symptoms compared to men, often waiting an average of 37 minutes longer to seek medical help during heart attacks.

Annie Faherty Costelloe, Head of Patient Community Engagement at Croí, emphasised the importance of the campaign, saying, “Heart attack symptoms in women tend to be more subtle, making it hard to recognise and treat. Knowing there is so little awareness has compelled us to bridge the gap and work harder to educate women across Ireland about unique symptoms they may disregard.”

Read more about women's heart health here.