Why Women’s Heart Attacks Go Unnoticed—and How to Fix It

Heart disease remains the top killer of both men and women in Germany. Yet women still face critical gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The Deutsche Herzstiftung is launching its fourth annual #GoRed2026 campaign on February 6 to highlight these disparities and push for better cardiac care for women.

Women experience heart attacks differently from men, often with subtler or additional warning signs. Medical professionals, however, frequently underestimate these symptoms, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Even when symptoms are recognised, women receive less urgent attention than men.

Standard CPR training also reflects this bias. Most practice mannequins are male, which may make bystanders hesitate when performing CPR on women. Studies show women are less likely to receive life-saving chest compressions in emergencies. Five major risk factors—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and diabetes—cause over half of all cardiovascular diseases. These factors hit women harder, yet preventive steps like blood pressure control and quitting smoking prove more effective for them. Keeping blood pressure healthy between 50 and 55, for example, adds 2.4 years to a woman’s life expectancy. Specialised women’s heart centres could fill some of these gaps. These clinics would offer tailored support for issues linked to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause—key stages where heart risks often rise.

The #GoRed2026 campaign calls for better training, awareness, and dedicated care for women’s heart health. Without change, delayed recognition and unequal treatment will continue to cost lives. The Deutsche Herzstiftung stresses that closing these gaps could save thousands of women each year.