New H.E.L.P. Mnemonic Helps Women Spot A Heart Attack And Seek Medical Help Timely

• New “H.E.L.P.” mnemonic launched to help more women recognise heart attack symptoms, including subtle ones that women are more likely to experience.
• New Singapore Book of Records milestones signify a whole-of-community commitment to encourage and empower women to take charge of their heart health.

Singapore, 7 May 2026 – The Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) held its United Hearts, One Cause event on 7 May 2026 at the ITE College West Indoor Sports Hall, to launch a new mnemonic to help women better recognise the often-overlooked symptoms of heart attacks that are more likely to be experienced by women and engage the community to strengthen their commitment to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

Graced by Guest of Honour Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, the event brought together a series of initiatives, spanning public education, youth engagement and community action.

Helping Women Take Charge of Their Heart Health

Taking centre stage in the event was the launch of SHF’s new H.E.L.P. mnemonic — a simple and memorable tool designed to help women and their loved ones recognise heart attack symptoms, including less obvious symptoms that women are more likely to experience, and seek medical help promptly.

H.E.L.P. stands for:

• H – Heaviness over chest and shortness of breath
• E – Extreme fatigue or unusual tiredness
• L – Light-headedness or dizziness
• P – Pain beyond the chest, radiating to neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back

This is reinforced by the tagline “Spot H.E.L.P., Act Fast”, which encourages women to seek medical advice promptly if they experience these symptoms. SHF’s women’s heart health survey found that while nearly 85% of women could identify common warning signs such as chest pain, fewer than half recognised subtler symptoms such as extreme fatigue or pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders and upper back.

The survey also found that only 11% of women correctly identified cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death among women in Singapore, while just 16% felt well informed about heart disease, highlighting a persistent gap between awareness and understanding.

“The launch of the H.E.L.P. mnemonic reflects our continued efforts to make heart health knowledge simple, accessible and actionable for all women. We hope to empower women to recognise their risks and take control of their heart wellness,” Dr Chan Wan Xian, Chairperson of the SHF’s Go Red for Women Committee explained. “This easy-to-remember mnemonic enables women to recognise symptoms of a heart attack early and to respond without delay. Importantly, we also hope to spark open conversations about women’s heart health and strengthen collective action in our community, so that no symptom is dismissed and no time is lost.”

Ms Alice Seow, Principal of ITE College West, said, “We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the Singapore Heart Foundation through this meaningful initiative, which gives our students the opportunity to support an important cause while learning more about heart health and wellness. This collaboration reflects our commitment to holistic education — nurturing students with the values to lead purposeful lives and the skills to contribute meaningfully to others. Through this event, our students can also help raise awareness of women’s heart health and encourage their peers and the wider community to adopt healthier lifestyles.”

Setting Records to Uplift Women’s Heart Health

To translate awareness into meaningful action, the event marked two milestones in the Singapore Book of Records, witnessed by Ms Rahayu Mahzam. These efforts reflect SHF’s commitment to engaging communities in meaningful and tangible ways to promote women’s heart health.

Bringing together beneficiaries, staff and volunteers, the first milestone – the ‘Largest Word Formation Made of Sewn Rubber Hearts’ saw the creation of 1,000 stitched rubber hearts, supported by Edwards Lifesciences Singapore. Unveiled during the launch, the hearts were subsequently distributed to ITE College West students, who were encouraged to pass them on to their female family members and friends to extend the message of heart health awareness. Each heart includes a QR code linking to educational resources on women’s heart health, information on the H.E.L.P. mnemonic and a complimentary health screening offer.

Complementing this, more than 500 ITE College West students took part in the ‘Most Number of People Attempting the 3-Minute Step Test in One Hour’. The activity demonstrated heart rate recovery as a simple indicator of cardiovascular fitness, while reinforcing how everyday actions can support heart health. By engaging youths directly, the initiative reinforces the importance of building heart-healthy habits early.

“Setting these two records in the Singapore Book of Records is deeply symbolic. It stands as a powerful testament to our role as Singapore’s leading heart health movement — one that brings the community together for a common cause: the battle against cardiovascular disease. With the strong support of our community, we have the power to shape the future of our nation’s heart health,” said Mr Geoffrey Ong, Chief Executive Officer of SHF.

Creatively Incorporating Canned Food into Heart-Healthy Meals

Adding a creative dimension to the event, the Heart-Healthy Culinary Innovation Competition, co-organised with ITE College West’s School of Hospitality, challenged students to develop nutritious, heart-smart meals using heart-healthier canned food as an essential ingredient. The competition sought to debunk misconceptions about canned food demonstrating how it can be incorporated into balanced, flavourful meals.

Extending the impact beyond the event, the winning recipes will be featured at ITE College West’s training restaurant – Amber West – and will potentially be integrated into the lunch menus of the CHIJ Sanctuary for Children’s student care centres, allowing more Singaporeans to benefit from these practical, heart-healthy culinary creations.

To learn how to identify heart attack symptoms in women, visit www.myheart.org.sg/h-e-l-p-women.