Women having more heart attacks...but are surviving them

Heart attacks have become more common in middle-aged women over the past two decades, studies showed today.

But while the incidence of heart attacks has increased, women have also experienced a greater increase than men in their chances of survival following a heart attack.

Researchers wrote in the scientific journal Archives of Internal Medicine: "Although men in their mid-life years continue to have a higher prevalence of myocardial infarction than women of similar age, our study suggests that the risk is increasing in women, while decreasing in men."

A second study in the same journal found deaths in hospital from heart attacks were down among all patients between 1994 and 2006, but decreased more markedly in women than in men.

British Heart Foundation cardiac nurse June Davison said: "These studies emphasise the importance of making sure that we all look after our heart health properly by not smoking, healthy eating and getting regular physical activity. We also recommend that all men and women over 40 go to their GP or practice nurse for a heart health check up."