The findings, commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and carried out by IPSOS, suggest that the cost of health checks, gym memberships, and healthy foods are among the most significant obstacles.

The survey also revealed that just over half of respondents – 51% of both women and men – felt confident in recognising the signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke in women. This lack of awareness persists despite heart disease and stroke being the leading killers of women in Ireland, claiming lives at a rate six times higher than breast cancer.

In response, the IHF has relaunched its “Her Heart Matters” campaign, aiming to increase awareness and encourage women to take their heart health more seriously. The charity expressed concern that a quarter of women cited the cost of medical checks as a major barrier, while nearly one in four admitted to lacking motivation. Additionally, 21% said gym memberships were too expensive and 18% pointed to the high price of healthy food.

Janis Morriseey, the IHF’s Director of Health Promotion, emphasised that women often experience heart attack symptoms that differ from the “classic” signs. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she noted that extreme fatigue, jaw pain, and back pain can be indicators of a heart attack in women and should never be overlooked.

She urged women to seek medical help immediately if they notice unusual symptoms, stressing that “if you feel something isn’t right for you, contact the emergency services and get it checked out.”

Ms Morrissey also encouraged women to “know their numbers” by monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure, and called for universal access to free annual health assessments. “All women should be empowered with the information around their own heart health,” she said.