Did you know cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally? This Women's Health Week we're highlighting how better awareness and access to treatment can save lives.

Almost every hour, an Australian woman dies of cardiovascular disease. Despite this, too many women remain unaware of their risk of heart disease.

Dr Esther Davis is a cardiologist and researcher at Monash Health’s Victorian Heart Hospital. She has a special interest in women’s heart health and runs the hospital’s Women’s Heart Health Clinic.

Dr Davis says women can experience the symptoms of heart disease in a different way to men. For example, they are more likely to experience symptoms other than chest pain.

Because of this they are less likely to recognise that symptoms are from the heart and seek medical attention.

We are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can access this site and its information.

Every effort has been made to ensure that this website reaches AA standard accessibility according to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The department continues to review and improve the accessibility of the site.

Some parts of this site might not meet your specific accessibility needs. If you have any problems accessing information on the site, we can give you the information in an alternative format.

Please email us or complete the contact us form and tell us what information you want, including the web address (URL).

We welcome your feedback about the website.

Copyright in this website (including content and design) is owned by the State of Victoria or used under licence.

You may make limited copies of this website in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), including copies for research, study, criticism, review or news reporting.

You may not publish, reproduce, adapt, modify, communicate or otherwise use any part of this website (in particular for commercial purposes).

This website is provided for general information only. The State of Victoria does not represent or warrant that the content of this website is accurate, authentic or complete or that the information contained in this website is suitable for your needs. You must not rely on this website as a statement of government policy, except where clearly stated. You should assess whether the information is accurate, authentic or complete and where appropriate, seek independent professional advice.

To the extent permitted by law, the State of Victoria excludes liability for any loss (including loss from viruses) caused by use or reliance on this website. The department may amend of withdraw material on this website at any time without notice.

This website provides links to external websites. The State of Victoria does not control and accepts no liability for the content of those websites or for any loss arising from use or reliance on those websites. The State of Victoria does not endorse any external website and does not warrant that they are accurate, authentic or complete. Your use of any external website is governed by the terms of that website. The provision of a link to an external website does not authorise you to reproduce, adapt, modify, communicate or in any way deal with the material on that site.

The inclusion of any email addresses on this website is not consent to receiving unsolicited commercial electronic messages or SPAM.