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Amy's Blog

Apples and Oranges!

Posted Wed. 17, Feb, 2010

"Sex does matter. It matters in ways that we did not expect. Undoubtedly, it also matters in ways that we have not begun to imagine." That powerful quote is from the Institute of Medicine back in 2001. Another comment comes from Paula Johnson, MD, MPH, Chief, Div. of Women's Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital; "The lack of recognition of sex-specific symptoms has led to underdiagnosis of heart disease in women." I bring these up to put a spotlight on the importance of recognizing how different we, as women, can experience heart disease. I know from interviewing numerous women with heart problems that the symptoms are not always the crushing chest pain we've always heard about as typical symptoms of heart disease. Many women do not experience severe pain during a heart attack, instead they have stomach pain and sweating. Mild pain should be taken more seriously. The pain may come and go. Women are somewhat more likely to experience back or jaw pain than men. One study found that women are more than twice as likely as men to experience nausea, vomiting or indigestion as "common" heart attack symptoms. Heart disease in women is often mistaken for a panic attack with shortness of breath, anxiety and indigestion.

When it comes to the anatomy of the heart, did you know that a woman's heart is disproportionately smaller than a man's, has more narrow coronary arteries, has more palpitations, and has more supporting tissue, which hardens with age, lessening the elasticity of the heart? These are facts to consider, not to scare you.

I invite you to either listen to the interviews I've done with heart patients or read more about their symptoms and experiences on this web site. Susan, Donna and Nykia, all Middle Tennessee women, have their own story of heart disease. And if you haven't already discussed your risk of heart disease with your doctor, I encourage you to do so. This morning on CBS This Morning, a group of women dressed in red, promoted heart awareness and stressed these points; talk to your doctor and know your numbers (i.e. cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) eat a healthy diet and exercise daily. Small changes can make a difference and make you feel better. Let's all continue to talk about this number one killer of women. Share the facts with your mothers,daughters, sisters, friends and co-workers. Let's beat this together.

Comments

User Comments

Great post. I work in the cardiac dept at Middle TN Medical Center. It is very common for women to present with symptoms commonly associated with panic attaches. Often times women seek medical attention for symptoms, to be sent home with meds for anxiety or depression. Furthermore, many women feel their symptoms are not taken seriously by family members, spouses, or medical staff. Many times this causes a delay in treatment and imposes unnecesary stress.
Angie Calvert