Ask us anything. Cardiac

Key facts

• Cardiac care commenced at Epworth in 1981
• Almost 30,000 cardiac surgeries performed have been performed at Epworth
• Did you know people who have severe emotional distress can suffer ‘broken heart syndrome”?

As people celebrate Valentine's Day, be comforted by the fact Epworth HealthCare cardiac specialists cared for more than 6,000 ‘broken hearts’ at Epworth last year.

Cardiovascular disease makes up 5.1% of all hospitalisations in Australia, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Our latest episode of the Epworth exclusive series ‘Ask us anything’ looks at all things cardiac.

Our specialists answer questions including “When should I call triple zero for an ambulance if I am having chest pain?”, “Are heart attack symptoms different in men and women?”, “What’s the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?”

Epworth Eastern Cardiologist Dr Sue-Ling Ching also explains a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or “’broken heart syndrome’, where severe emotional distress, from something like a relationship break up, can mimic heart attack symptoms.

The episode also gives advice on how to lower your risk of a cardiac event and explains the importance of cardiac rehabilitation.

You can submit your health questions to shape future episodes of Ask us anything.

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