Real Health with Karl Henry ‘If you look at the heart attack registry, it’s often a smoker’s registry’ ~ Cardiologist Professor Robert Byrne
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Nov 27, 2025 Professor Robert Byrne, a leading cardiologist and director of cardiology at the Mater Private Network, delves into critical heart health topics. He highlights under-recognition of heart disease in women and discusses atypical symptoms like breathlessness and jaw pain. Anxiety's relationship with heart health and the impact of stress on coronary artery disease are explored. Byrne emphasizes lifestyle changes to reduce heart risk, the effects of menopause, and the benefits of new weight-loss injectables. He also addresses the heart risks associated with COVID-19.
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Women’s Heart Disease Is Under-Recognised
- Heart disease appears under-recognized in women despite similar death rates to men.
- Registries show more men with disease, suggesting diagnostic or presentation gaps.
Don’t Ignore Atypical Symptoms
- Watch for atypical symptoms like breathlessness, back, jaw or arm discomfort as possible heart signs.
- Seek medical review if unsure rather than assuming non-cardiac causes like indigestion or anxiety.
Stress Links To Rare Female-Predominant Conditions
- Chronic stress is a clear risk factor for coronary artery disease alongside cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Two rare stress-related conditions, SCAD and Takotsubo, strongly affect women.