Women are generally not aware about their significantly different heart attack symptoms than men, which increases their risk of dying. The classic sign of heart pain is not experienced by nearly 40% women who suffer a heart attack. According to the Heart Foundation, shortness of breath, nausea, back pain, dizziness or general fatigue are likely to be experienced by women as heart attack symptoms.

Risk of death in women rises significantly because many women simply don't have the idea that their symptoms are different than those commonly associated with a heart attack. As a result, they fail to recognize the seriousness of their condition and do not seek emergency help.

According to Kelie-Ann Jolly, Director of cardiovascular health at the Heart Foundation, heart attack occurred in twice as many men as women, but it did not bring any changes in the fatality rates of both the sexes as remained almost the same.

"We tend to think about the 'Hollywood heart attack' with chest pain, but women are more likely to have generic symptoms, some of which might be mistaken for the flu or feeling a bit run down. And traditionally because women are carers, they often put others before themselves", said Jolly.

The latest Heart Foundation survey revealed that 18,678 women and girls succumbed to cardiovascular diseases in 2012.

North Coburg resident Penelope Theodorelos did not have any idea about a heart attack when she was 35 years old and thought the pain shooting from her left hand was caused by an injury she had while playing interactive tennis. When the pain did not go away for some days and became worse, she went to doctors who diagnosed her with a heart attack.

Jolly said that there is a wrong perception among women that cancer is the biggest killer of women as heart disease claimed lives of three times as many women as did breast cancer.