11/04/2024
Women’s Heart Health: Break the Stigma, Learn CPR, Save Lives
Women are less likely to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Unlike men, who often experience sharp chest pain, women’s symptoms can be more subtle, such as shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, or even back pain. These are often dismissed as stress or exhaustion. Women tend to prioritize their families, work, or other obligations—putting their health on the back burner.
Research from the American Heart Association highlights that women experience cardiac arrest at rates comparable to or even higher than men but are less likely to receive life-saving CPR. Many women experience cardiac events later in life, often with additional health conditions like diabetes or hypertension, further increasing their risk.
Only 39% of women in cardiac arrest receive CPR from bystanders, compared to 45% of men. This hesitation can come from fear of causing harm, fear of inappropriate touching, or uncertainty.
The good news? YOU can help change this. Learning CPR is one of the most effective ways to save lives. Immediate CPR can double or even triple survival rates, and it's crucial that everyone feels confident in providing this life-saving assistance, especially to women.
Tip of the day: Knowing CPR empowers YOU to take action when someone collapses from cardiac arrest. Don’t be afraid to step in—it could save a life.
Challenge: Tag three friends who haven’t taken a CPR class yet. Let’s make sure more women get the help they need!
Let’s break down the stigma, learn CPR, and be prepared to help when it’s needed most!
AHA (2022). Help for Latinas and Black women at higher risk of out of hospital cardiac arrest death. Retrieved from https://newsroom.heart.org/news/help-for-latinas-and-black-women-at-higher-risk-of-out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest-death
AHA (2020). Women found to be at higher risk of heart failure and heart attack death than men. Retrieved from https://newsroom.heart.org/news/women-found-to-be-at-higher-risk-for-heart-failure-and-heart-attack-death-than-men