A recent case involving Sharyn French, a 51-year-old mother from Australia, underscores the urgent need for increased awareness of heart attack symptoms in women.

French experienced dizziness, nausea, arm tingling, jaw pain, and chest heaviness, only to discover later that she was suffering from Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a serious heart condition primarily affecting women and often occurring in those who are otherwise fit and healthy.

French's symptoms went unrecognized for too long, leading to her in-laws calling an ambulance when she collapsed.

She recounted her experience, stating, "I'd never felt those symptoms before and thought, oh, I'll just go and have a shower.

I'll be right." According to health experts, heart disease remains a leading cause of death for both women and men worldwide.

A comprehensive survey conducted by researchers and recently published in the British Medical Journal involved 34,000 participants and revealed alarming trends: about one third of people would not call emergency services if they experienced signs of a heart attack.

Notably, the survey highlighted a critical knowledge gap among women regarding the symptoms of heart attacks, which differ significantly from those typically presented in male portrayals in media.

Dr. Linda Worrall-Carter, Director of the Her Heart organization, remarked on the traditional focus of heart disease awareness on men's symptoms.

She explained, "Traditionally, media attention has centered around men, and research indicates that women's symptoms often differ.

There is a considerable lack of awareness among both the general public and health professionals regarding this issue."

The portrayal of heart attack symptoms predominantly emphasizes chest pain, but Dr. Worrall-Carter states that many women may not experience this symptom at all.

Research suggests that up to 60% of women may not present with chest pain during a heart attack.

Other symptoms can include pain radiating to the jaw or shoulder blades, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and extreme fatigue.

Further reinforcing this concern, a separate study conducted by Monash University found that women are often hesitant to seek help for suspected heart attacks.

The study revealed that 35% of women surveyed expressed reluctance to contact emergency services out of concern for being a burden, compared to 27% of men.

Many women preferred to seek advice from their general practitioner to confirm whether they were experiencing a heart attack, reflecting a perception of low risk regarding their symptoms.

Monash Associate Professor Kathryn Eastwood, a paramedic, highlighted additional barriers that could affect emergency service access, particularly among individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The study established that these populations were less likely to utilize ambulance services, a situation necessitating targeted educational efforts to inform them when to seek emergency care.

Professor Eastwood emphasized a critical message for the public, stating, "Call us first, decide later.

Don’t worry about inconveniencing us; that’s what we’re there for.

Don’t hesitate."

Sharyn French echoed this sentiment, sharing her own realizations from her experience.

Despite initially mistaking her serious symptoms for a virus, she has expressed gratitude for the timely medical intervention that allowed her a second chance at life.