It may come as a surprise to learn that the single biggest killer of women in New Zealand is heart disease.
At least two Kiwi women die from a heart attack everyday.
One of the most common causes of heart attack in women is spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), responsible for 30 percent of incidents.
SCAD is much more commonly seen in women than in men, and the majority of patients are healthy without typical cardiovascular risk factors.
One of the common triggers for SCAD is extreme exercise.
The good news is most patients with SCAD recover completely and don't need coronary stents or bypass surgery.
So what are the signs of heart attack in women, and how do you reduce your risk of SCAD?
Kathryn finds out from Dr Sarah Fairley, an Interventional and Obstetric Cardiologist at Wellington Hospital and is the chair of the New Zealand Cardiovascular Intervention Group.
Photo: 123RF
