Senator Kimberley Kitching's early death highlights the need for major change to Australia's clinical guidelines to address the disparity between men and women when it comes to heart disease, the Heart Foundation says.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia and it kills three times as many women as breast cancer.
More men than women will have a heart attack, but women's survival one year and five years after a heart attack is worse.
The signs, risk factors, treatment and diagnosis of heart disease can differ greatly between men and women, with women more likely to suffer non-chest pain symptoms including arm, jaw or back pain and nausea.
Women themselves may not recognise these symptoms, leading to delays in them presenting at hospitals, however unconscious bias among health professionals also creates delays.
Some aspects of the disease in women are unknown, with research into small vessel disease - which disproportionately impacts women - still in early stages.
"Women present with these vague symptoms that may be attributed to menopause or anxiety, rather than the fact the woman is having a heart attack," Heart Foundation health strategy director Julie Anne Mitchell told AAP.
"These all build to delays in treatment, that's why the Heart Foundation is not only calling for a national awareness campaign, but also an update to our clinical guidelines around heart attacks so that they address sex and gender issues more directly."
Improving the awareness and clinical outcomes of heart disease in women make up two out of three key recommendations the charity has put to the federal government in a recent pre-budget submission.
The foundation is calling for an update to clinical guidelines to emphasise sex and gender differences; the creation of an inclusion framework to integrate women's needs; and for better eduction of health professionals.
It is also calling for $12 million over three years to improve knowledge, reduce risk, change behaviour and prompt action on the disease.
With a federal election looming, the Heart Foundation is currently speaking to both Labor and the Coalition about their proposals.
"It's vitally important in ensuring not only women are aware, but actually that the health system is supporting them when they present with problems," Ms Mitchell said.
Three prominent Australians - all aged 52 - have suffered heart attacks within the space of a week.
Senator Kitching and former cricketer Shane Warne both died from cardiac episodes, while ex-AFL player Dean Wallis survived.
Ms Mitchell said the high-profile attacks are a reminder that heart disease can appear at any moment in a person's life.
"Senator Kitching's story highlights for women that heart disease and heart attack is an issue as relevant to them as Shane Warne's case was to men," she said.
"Hopefully what people are taking from this is the opportunity to discuss this with friends, family, partners and to think about what they themselves can do to either minimise their risk or better understand their risk of heart disease."
The Heart Foundation recommends Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged over 30, and all people aged over 45, see their doctor for a heart health check.
