London - Women put their lives at risk by ignoring the symptoms of heart disease, researchers warn.
Many brush pain off as indigestion or a pulled muscle and wait days or weeks before seeing a doctor.
But in fact it could be a symptom of angina, where one of the arteries to the heart gets blocked, or a mild heart attack.
Harvard researchers urge women not to assume heart attacks are a “man’s disease” and to seek help.
Statistically, women are less likely to have a heart attack than men before the menopause, but afterwards they overtake them and are more at risk.
Furthermore, heart attacks in women tend to be more severe than in men – possibly because they have ignored the warning signs.
Lead author Dr Catherine Kreatsoulas, of the Harvard School of Public Health said: “Both men and women go into a phase of denial – but women seem to stay in this stage longer.” - Daily Mail