NHS Heart Attack Care Set for Major Change as Doctors Address Gender Bias

Heart attack diagnosis and treatment could be set for a major change after leading medical organisations acknowledged that women have historically faced disadvantages when being assessed for the condition.

New guidance from the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association is expected to change how certain heart attacks are classified and diagnosed. The move is being described as an important step towards making heart care more accurate and equitable for women.

The issue matters because heart disease has often been associated with men, potentially contributing to differences in how symptoms are recognised and how quickly patients receive treatment.

Why Are Women More Likely to Be Misdiagnosed?

Heart attacks do not always happen in exactly the same way for every patient. Some forms of heart attack that are more frequently seen in women can involve causes other than the blood clots commonly associated with the condition.

According to the source article, around 90 per cent of heart attacks are linked to blood clots. However, approximately 10 per cent can have other causes, including problems such as artery tears or spasms that interfere with blood flow to the heart.

Historically, some of these cases have been placed into a different heart attack category. The new approach aims to ensure that heart attacks caused by mechanisms other than conventional blood clots receive appropriate recognition and treatment.

This could be particularly significant for women, as some of these less common forms can be associated with pregnancy or severe emotional stress.

The British Heart Foundation's Professor Bryan Williams described the change as a landmark development in the way heart attacks are defined and diagnosed worldwide. He also highlighted the long-standing problem of women missing accurate diagnoses for less common forms of heart attack.

New Heart Attack Guidelines Could Improve Diagnosis

One of the biggest changes concerns how healthcare professionals classify heart attacks.

Under the new guidelines, heart attacks caused by factors other than blood clots will be ranked as the most serious type 1 category. This represents a significant change from the previous approach described in the report.

The objective is not simply to change terminology. Accurate classification can influence how doctors understand the seriousness and underlying cause of a patient's condition, which can affect subsequent medical decisions.

The new guidance was announced at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich, Germany.

Researchers and medical experts also want doctors to make greater use of more sensitive blood tests when assessing women who may be experiencing a heart attack.

Why Troponin Testing Matters

Troponin is a protein that plays an important role in diagnosing heart attacks. When heart muscle is damaged, troponin can be released into the bloodstream, allowing doctors to use blood tests as part of their assessment.

However, the article reports concerns that existing testing approaches do not always account adequately for biological differences between men and women.

Professor Nicholas Mills from the University of Edinburgh said that using an average level for the key blood test can identify many affected men while potentially failing to detect some women.

The proposed changes therefore aim to ensure that troponin testing is used more appropriately for different patients.

This is important because a diagnostic test is only useful when its results are interpreted in a way that reflects the person being assessed. Improving testing methods could help healthcare professionals identify heart attacks in women more effectively.

The Scale of the Problem

Heart attacks remain a major health concern in the UK. The source article reports that approximately 100,000 people experience a heart attack each year, including around 33,000 women.

Heart Research UK is also cited as saying that women are 50 per cent more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and twice as likely to die.

These figures underline why improving women's heart attack diagnosis is important.

Dr Roy Jogiya, chief medical adviser at Heart Research UK, said that heart disease has been viewed as a man's health issue for too long. He also stressed the importance of better recognising types of heart attack that particularly affect women.

How Can You Reduce Your Heart Attack Risk?

While improvements in diagnosis are important, prevention remains a key part of protecting heart health.

Many of the risk factors linked to heart attacks are also associated with strokes. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes.

Making healthier lifestyle choices can help address several of these risks at the same time.

Follow a Heart Healthy Diet

A balanced diet can support cardiovascular health. The source article recommends eating more fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein.

Foods containing soluble fibre, including oats and beans, may also help with cholesterol management.

It is also important to pay attention to the types of fat in your diet. Saturated and trans fats can contribute to higher cholesterol, while healthier fats can be found in foods such as nuts, avocados and olive oil.

Keeping salt intake under control is another important consideration because excessive salt consumption can contribute to high blood pressure. The NHS recommendation cited in the article is no more than 6 grams of salt per day for adults.

Stay Physically Active

Regular physical activity can benefit the heart and circulation.

The NHS guidance cited in the source recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.

Walking, cycling, swimming and running are examples of activities that can help people remain active. Strength exercises are also recommended twice a week.

Keep Blood Pressure Under Control

High blood pressure often does not produce noticeable symptoms, yet it can substantially increase cardiovascular risk.

A healthy diet and regular exercise can help with blood pressure management. The source also recommends monitoring blood pressure, particularly for adults over 40 who are eligible for NHS health checks.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is an important cardiovascular risk factor. People who want to quit can seek support through NHS Smokefree resources, which include different forms of assistance and treatment.

Getting professional support can make the process of stopping smoking easier for many people.

Keep Alcohol Within Recommended Limits

Drinking too much alcohol can contribute to increased blood pressure and weight gain, both of which can affect heart health.

The source article cites NHS guidance advising adults not to regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week.

A More Inclusive Approach to Heart Health

The planned changes to heart attack diagnosis highlight a wider issue in healthcare: medical systems need to recognise that conditions can present differently across different groups of patients.

For women, better recognition of less common heart attack causes and more appropriate interpretation of blood tests could help reduce missed or delayed diagnoses.

The new guidance represents an important development, but awareness remains essential. Anyone experiencing symptoms that could indicate a heart attack should seek urgent medical attention rather than assuming the symptoms are caused by another condition.

Ultimately, improving heart attack care requires both better medical guidance and greater awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. A more individualised approach to diagnosis could help ensure that patients receive appropriate care when they need it most.

Source

The Sun on 28 August 2026.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Heart attack symptoms can be serious and require urgent medical assessment. If you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, seek emergency medical help immediately.