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Women’s health is a fundamental priority for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and underpins our efforts to improve care and reduce health inequalities for those affected by chest, heart, stroke, or Long Covid conditions.
Although women make up 51.4% of Scotland’s population, they continue to face barriers and inequalities that impact their health outcomes. For example, women are more likely to experience delayed diagnosis and symptom dismissal and less likely to receive optimal care after a stroke or heart attack. This is unacceptable. At CHSS, we are dedicated to changing this by ensuring that every woman affected by a chest, heart, stroke or Long Covid condition receives the support, care, and understanding she deserves.
In January 2026, the Scottish Government published the Women’s Health Plan: Phase 2, reaffirming a national commitment to improving women’s health and reducing gender health inequalities. In alignment with this, CHSS will also launch our refreshed Women’s Health Plan in 2026, outlining our future actions, priorities, and ambitions to further strengthen the support we provide to women in Scotland.
Our renewed plan will guide how we work to close the gender health gap and ensure women affected by chest, heart, stroke, and Long Covid conditions are better heard, better supported, and better served.
CHSS provides a wide range of services designed to empower women, improve health outcomes, and offer accessible support at every stage of their health journey.
We deliver specialist training and education that helps health professionals improve their knowledge and understanding of women’s health with relation to chest, heart, stroke, and Long Covid conditions.
Education
Our women’s peer support group is specifically for women living with our conditions – chest, heart, stroke, or Long Covid. Available across Scotland, it’s the perfect place to meet like-minded people and share experiences and ideas on how to live well with your condition. Join us online to enjoy a friendly chat with other women who understand exactly how you’re feeling.
Sign up here
Our compassionate team, made up of trained advisors and healthcare professionals, provide personalised advice and support. Call 0808 801 0899 for free, confidential advice about your health.
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HEARTe15 is a free, online education resource for anyone interested in learning about women’s heart health. The interactive eLearning tool provides evidence-based information, written by health professionals, to raise awareness of heart disease symptoms, risk factors, and management in women of all ages.
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Women can access free, community-based health checks to spot risk factors early and take control of their long-term health. Visit your local Health Defence hub today.
In partnership with the Scottish Football Association (SFA), we support women to get active through fun, inclusive women’s recreational football programmes that build fitness, confidence, and community.
A retired social statistician, Mary has lived and worked all over the world in her career. In 2022, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), which causes an irregular heartbeat, and with angina in 2024.
Mary has attended the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland functional fitness classes at the Maryhill Defence Hub in Glasgow and has now joined our Voices of Experience Panel.
Mary shared, “It was a shock. I thought I was invincible. I thought I was Superwoman. I never thought I’d ever be chronically ill.
“I was introduced to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland when the cardiac nurse told me about the functional fitness class. I was keen to do much more than they would let me do! But they are so welcoming and kind and kept in touch with me.
“I wrote to CHSS to thank them for all their help, and it was then I got an invitation to become part of the Voices of Experience Panel. I thought, why not? If I can bring a little of my experience to the table so others can benefit, that will be great.
“Cardiac disease is very limiting. Ordinarily I’d have joined groups or started volunteering but I can’t commit to much because I never know how I’ll feel on the day.
“I always say I wish I’d had a heart attack because then I would have had definitive treatment, like a stent fitted. I see people at the gym who’ve had a heart attack, I’m still struggling on with angina.
“I’m not that ill, but I’m not fully functioning either. I can’t live my life as I used to, it’s a bit depressing. I feel someone needs to speak up for the people like me who are sent home with a load of pills. Not everyone is comfortable speaking out, but I can.”
If you’re worried about your health or managing a condition, our Advice Line team is here for you.
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“I think it’s so important for people to know they can get support, particularly when they are first diagnosed and are scared about what’s happening.”
Diagnosed with asthma in her 40s and COPD/emphysema at 50, Vivienne had to give up her role as a mental health advocate when her health deteriorated.
Vivienne has joined our Voices of Experience Panel to bring her knowledge of self-managing long-term health conditions to the charity.
Vivienne shared, “I’ve always been very good at managing my own health. That’s so important when you are living with a lung condition. Covid was difficult. I was shielding for months, but I struggled with my inhaler and couldn’t see a doctor. When I was eventually able to see a consultant, I was put on to the strongest inhaler possible. I’m still on that now.
“I have angina, too, so I take lots of medication for different things, and sometimes they can have adverse effects on me. I had a seizure a couple of years ago. The doctors thought I’d had a stroke, but it had actually been caused by a change in medication. That seizure affected my memory quite badly, and it took a long time to recover from it.
“At Christmas I caught a cold from my husband. His went away, but mine didn’t. Eventually I ended up on steroids and antibiotics. I take antibiotics three times a week just to try and keep any chest infection at bay, but sometimes you need extra help.
“I think it’s so important for people to know they can get support, particularly when they are first diagnosed and are scared about what’s happening.
“That was part of my motivation for joining Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Voices of Experience Panel. I also want to make sure that people get the right medical and health information. It’s so easy to read things on social media that are wrong or misleading. And that can have a negative effect on someone’s health.
“I’ve been dealing with these chest conditions for a long time, but even I am learning all the time about the effects on my body and my health. I want to make sure everyone is properly informed.”