Research suggests that women are not referred for surgery as often as men and that woman who have surgery are more severely ill. One explanation for this could be that, statistically, women with heart disease are older and therefore may have other physical illnesses that might prolong their recovery period, so doctors may be more reluctant to advise surgery. The latest research, however, shows that women do just as well – and in some cases even better -both physically and in reports of improved quality of life and vitality. What these findings underline is the importance for women with heart disease to make sure that they have explored all the options for treatment with their doctor.

Women may find it particularly uncomfortable to wear a bra after surgery and because women’s clothes tend to expose their bodies more than men’s there may be one or two extra issues to consider. Gill recalls the shock at the state of her legs, which were cut open to remove a suitable vein for her bypass. ‘Now they swell up and I can’t stand for long. It is very annoying as I had nice legs and used to like wearing mini skirts. Now I wear trousers most of time and very rarely wear a dress. I can’t wear low-cut things either because of the scar on my chest.’

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