Women at higher risk of heart disease misdiagnosis
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Fearing that his grandmother would suffer a fourth heart attack, a lady has taught her five-year-old son to use FaceTime.
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Women at higher risk of heart disease misdiagnosis
Mandy Swift, 56, has suffered three heart attacks, and her daughter Vicki is teaching her son Gethin to call 911 if her mom becomes ill.
Women were frequently misdiagnosed, according to the British Heart Foundation Cymru. However, the Welsh government said it was working to improve care.
Mandy suffered her first two heart attacks while living abroad and then had a third after relocating to Denbighshire to be closer to her family.
Vicki, from Rhyl, is concerned that her mother may suffer a heart attack while caring for Gethin.
"Every day on my way to work I give my mum a ring and if she doesn't answer I panic," said Vicki, whose father suffered a fatal heart attack aged 42.
"When I look at my mum and her quality of life - she struggles to go out. As much as I love her, I don't want that for me."
What are the chances of a woman having a heart attack?
Unconscious bias and systematic disparities in healthcare, according to a British Heart Foundation Cymru analysis, put women at a disadvantage at every stage of heart disease.
According to the charity, women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, receive inadequate care, and have difficulty accessing cardiac rehabilitation.
Every year, about 1,700 women are taken to hospitals in Wales due to a heart attack, but according to BHF Cymru study, few are confident in their ability to recognize the warning symptoms.
According to the charity, heart and circulatory disorders kill 4,900 men and 4,400 women in Wales each year, despite the fact that it is commonly assumed that males are the ones who are affected.
Wales risks "an epidemic of heart failure and cardiac disease," according to consultant cardiologist Lena Izzat.
"Women often wait longer before calling 999 after first experiencing heart attack symptoms and that delay can dramatically reduce the chance of survival," she said.
Diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure, she noted, put women at a higher risk of heart attacks than males.
What is being done?
A Welsh government spokesperson said, "We are producing a women's health quality statement to ensure services consider the specific needs of women and ensure timely, equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services in all aspects of healthcare in Wales."
"Wales already has a quality statement for heart conditions and we will continue to work with partners and health boards to improve the care of people with heart conditions."
