Campaign says heart disease a top killer of women as well as men

A campaign by the Australian Heart Foundation is aiming to debunk the myth that heart disease is a medical condition that primarily affects men.

The Heart Foundation says heart disease caused the deaths in 34 per cent of Australians in 2006, and more than half of those were women.

The Heart Foundation's 'Go Red for Women' campaign is promoting a healthier lifestyle and advocating regular heart check-ups for women and that women have their cholesterol checked, quit smoking, eat well and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

The results of a survey of 1,300 women, have revealed that most women mistakenly believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among females and they underestimate heart disease as the nation's biggest killer.

The Heart Foundation says heart disease kills 30 Australian women every day, almost 11,000 a year, yet only 30 per cent of those questioned knew it was the biggest killer, with most women believing breast cancer, which kills about 2,600 annually, to be the top cause of death.

Cameron Prout, chief executive of the Heart Foundation, says it is a common misconception that heart disease is a 'male problem' and women tend to dismiss their symptoms and not seek help until the condition becomes serious.

He says heart disease should not be underestimated and is a real issue for all women and younger women should take heed and act to reduce their risk.

The survey also showed that while about half were aware smoking, saturated fat and obesity were major risk factors for heart disease, only 11 per cent of those questioned recognised high blood pressure as a risk factor - 19 per cent recognised high cholesterol and six per cent recognised diabetes and only 18 per cent thought alcohol could be a contributing factor.

Health guidelines list smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, diabetes and excessive alcohol as the leading contributors to heart disease, along with age, a family history of heart disease and a previous heart attack.