Heart disease can affect the arteries supplying the heart, its rhythm, valves or muscle. Chest discomfort, breathlessness or palpitations (a racing, fluttering or skipping heartbeat) may be signs of a heart problem, but they can also have other causes. The pattern of symptoms helps a cardiologist decide what to check.
Women share many heart disease risk factors with men. When assessing a woman's risk, a doctor also looks at pregnancy complications and menopause history, along with blood pressure and cholesterol results.
Estimating your chance of a future heart attack or stroke helps a doctor advise you about prevention. That estimate can't explain what's causing current symptoms such as chest pain or palpitations. You can also feel well while blood pressure or cholesterol is high.
Call triple zero (000) for severe, worsening or persistent chest pain, or chest discomfort with breathlessness, sweating, nausea or pain spreading to your arm, jaw or back.
Do not wait for a routine appointment or drive yourself to hospital.
The heart works harder during pregnancy because blood volume increases. High blood pressure in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, is linked with a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure later in life. Pre-eclampsia can also affect other organs.
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and raises the later risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, even if blood sugar returns to normal after birth. Giving birth early or to a baby with a low birthweight is also linked with a higher risk of heart disease later on. These complications don't mean you'll develop heart disease, but blood pressure and other risk factors may need ongoing checks.
During menopause, falling oestrogen can raise LDL cholesterol, which contributes to fatty deposits in artery walls when levels are high. Blood pressure, blood sugar and where the body stores fat may change too. Ageing and existing health conditions also contribute. The risk of heart disease rises through midlife and can be higher after early menopause.
Menopausal hormone therapy can relieve hot flushes and night sweats. It isn't recommended solely to prevent heart disease. Whether it's suitable for you depends on your symptoms and medical history, as well as its benefits and risks.
If a close relative developed heart disease at a young age, a doctor will consider that alongside your age, smoking history, blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. High blood pressure and cholesterol often cause no symptoms, so regular checks are still useful when you feel well.
Regular physical activity, changes to eating patterns and support to stop smoking can help reduce risk. Medicines may be recommended to lower blood pressure or cholesterol and reduce the chance of a heart attack or stroke. If you already have a heart condition, treating it and preventing further problems go together.
Chest pain is the symptom most often reported during a heart attack in women and men. It may feel like pressure, tightness or heaviness. Other symptoms include breathlessness, nausea, sweating, or discomfort in the arm, jaw or back. A suspected heart attack needs emergency care, whatever your age or previous test results.
Palpitations, unexplained breathlessness, fainting or finding physical activity harder than usual can have several causes. A doctor will ask when they happen, how long they last and what else you feel at the time. If symptoms appear around menopause, a doctor can check for causes other than hormones or anxiety.
Polycystic ovary syndrome can occur with insulin resistance, a reduced response to the hormone that controls blood sugar. This can raise the risk of diabetes or high cholesterol. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and some cancer treatments can also affect heart health. Having one of these conditions doesn't on its own mean you need heart tests. Your symptoms, previous results and health history guide that choice.
Consulting Cardiologist · MBBS, FRACP
Dr Ng specialises in non-invasive heart imaging, including echocardiography (heart ultrasound). Her clinical interests include heart disease risk assessment, heart valve disease, heart failure and ischaemic heart disease, which affects the heart's blood supply. Clinical research is another of her interests.
Her training includes advanced cardiology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Adelaide and echocardiography fellowships at National Heart Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital.
She speaks English, Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien, and consults at locations including Werribee, St Albans, Wheelers Hill, Dandenong, Pakenham and Melbourne.
Which test is suitable depends on what the doctor is trying to find out. An ECG records the heart's electrical activity and can show an abnormal rhythm present at the time. A monitor worn for longer can help capture episodes that come and go.
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to show the chambers and valves as the heart beats. It can help investigate breathlessness or a suspected valve or pumping problem.
Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checks are part of preventing future heart disease. A separate pathology service does any further blood tests. Previous results can already answer some of these questions, so a consultation doesn't necessarily lead to a new set of tests.
You'll need a valid referral from your GP or specialist that explains the reason for the visit and includes relevant test results.
Consultations are privately billed. If you're eligible, Medicare pays part of the consultation fee when you have a valid referral from your GP or specialist. The clinic will confirm the amount left to pay before the visit.
If separate tests are recommended, you'll be told why they're needed and what they cost. Your GP will receive a report with the results, recommended care and any follow-up.
Heartscope cardiologists see patients at clinics in Melbourne and Queensland. If you have a referral, our team can confirm the location and appointment details.
View clinic locationsYes. With a valid referral from their GP or specialist, women may be able to see a cardiologist at the clinic. These appointments don't replace emergency or maternity care.
Yes, it's worth telling your GP about symptoms that concern you, whatever your age or lifestyle. One uncommon heart condition, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), mainly affects women and often occurs without the usual risk factors such as high cholesterol or smoking. In SCAD, layers within a heart artery wall separate, which can reduce blood flow to the heart.
No. For many women, a GP can provide the heart checks and ongoing care they need. A cardiologist may help with symptoms, abnormal test results, an existing heart condition or questions about treatment.
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