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Get the facts

Certain chronic diseases, especially heart disease, are often viewed as primarily affecting men. The truth is that heart disease affects women and men almost equally. It is the number 1 killer of women, just as it is of men.1

Globally, women are subject to the same risk factors as men but a woman undergoing a heart attack may not experience the same warning signs as a man.

Go Red for women urges health professionals to look after women by recognizing the different symptoms of heart disease and stroke and providing appropriate treatment. Go Red for women encourages more research into gender-specific heart health issues. Go Red for women appeals to policy-makers to include heart health for women and their families in health policies and programmes.


1 Prescott et al. BMJ 1998;316:1043-1047.

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It is important for women to understand their warning signs and know that their symptoms may be different from those of a man. For example, women may not experience chest pain.

Know your warning signs!