Dr. Matt Barrett
Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Governance Lead Affidea Heart Health
What’s your blood type? It’s a question many of us can answer without hesitation – A, B, O, positive or negative. While it remains important in certain medical situations, it has little bearing on our everyday health.
Far more important, yet far less commonly known, are the numbers that quietly shape our future wellbeing: our cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is often described as the “silent killer”, and the scale of its impact explains why. It claims nearly 18 million lives worldwide each year and remains the leading cause of death. For women in particular, the picture is stark. CVD causes more deaths annually than breast and cervical cancer combined. In Ireland, diseases of the circulatory system account for roughly one in four female deaths, underlining just how widespread, and often under-recognised, the issue is.
While heart disease affects both men and women, it does not do so in the same way. Men are more likely to develop cardiovascular issues earlier in life, particularly in midlife, whereas women’s risk tends to rise later, often after menopause. Despite this later onset, women account for a substantial proportion of overall deaths, partly because they live longer and partly because symptoms can present differently. Rather than the classic chest pain often associated with heart attacks, women may experience fatigue, nausea, or discomfort in the back or jaw – symptoms that can delay diagnosis and treatment.
Because when it comes to the health of your heart, what you don’t know can hurt you -but what you do know can make all the difference.
Risk factors, too, can have a different impact. Conditions such as diabetes and smoking carry a greater relative risk for women, while longer life expectancy increases the likelihood of developing related conditions such as hypertension or obesity. Historically, there has also been a tendency towards underdiagnosis and undertreatment in women, due in part to gaps in research and awareness. All of this contributes to a situation where cardiovascular disease can progress unnoticed for years.
That is perhaps the most challenging aspect of heart disease: it rarely announces itself early. It develops gradually, driven by risk factors that are often symptomless. Many people assume that maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle is sufficient protection, but without measuring key indicators such as blood pressure or cholesterol, underlying risks can remain hidden. If these warning signs are not identified, they cannot be managed, and the consequences can be life-altering.
The encouraging reality is that cardiovascular disease is not inevitable. It is, in many cases, detectable, manageable, and even preventable. A small number of straightforward tests can provide a clear picture of heart health long before symptoms arise. These results can then be used to calculate an individual’s cardiovascular risk, guiding decisions around lifestyle changes or medical intervention that can significantly reduce the likelihood of future problems.
For those seeking a more comprehensive understanding of their heart health, structured screening services are increasingly accessible. The Affidea Heart Health Check brings together physical assessment, advanced blood testing, and cardiac imaging, with results overseen by a consultant cardiologist. Designed to be efficient and patient-focused, it offers a proactive way to gain clarity without unnecessary delays, helping individuals take informed steps at an earlier stage.
Ultimately, protecting heart health begins with awareness. Knowing your numbers, your blood pressure, your cholesterol, your risk score, is a simple but powerful starting point. These are the metrics that matter, far more than blood type when it comes to long-term health. In many cases, they offer an early warning system and, importantly, an opportunity to act.
Because when it comes to the health of your heart, what you don’t know can hurt you -but what you do know can make all the difference.
