Heart disease remains the number one cause of death among women, taking the life of one in three women each year. February is American Heart Month and the experts at Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center are urging area women to take charge of their heart health.
“There are many reasons why women are more vulnerable to heart attacks than men, but the number one reason is that they’re not aware,” said cardiologist Tracy Stevens, M.D., medical director, Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center. “Due to the more subtle, atypical nature of women’s heart attack symptoms, women often delay seeking treatment because they do not think the symptoms are related to their heart.”
In addition to the traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, smoking and diabetes, women share the common risk factor of menopause.
“We’re learning more about menopause and the role it plays in heart disease,” said Dr. Stevens. “There are estrogen receptor sites inside our coronary arteries and the overall loss of circulating estrogen within our vessels may significantly impact a woman’s risk for cardiovascular disease.”
Women who had high blood pressure and/or diabetes during pregnancy, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment for breast cancer and those with polycystic ovary syndrome are also considered at risk. “The good news is that through awareness, symptom recognition and control of risk factors, more than 85 percent of heart attacks and stroke can be prevented,” said Dr. Stevens.
The Muriel I. Kauffman’s Women’s Heart Center was founded in 1994 and was the first center of its kind in the nation to tailor heart care to address the unique gender-related differences that place women at risk over men. “Recognizing that women are agents of change for themselves and their families, a strategic theory is that the cardiovascular health of the entire family can be improved by empowering women to take a proactive and preventive role in their heart health,” said Marcia McCoy, center director. “We’re proud to offer a specialized cardiology team that understands the unique aspects of women’s heart health.”
In partnership with WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, the center recommends that women familiarize themselves with the following gender-specific heart attack symptoms:
– Chest discomfort, tightness, uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing in the center of the chest generally occurring with some form of exertion
– Discomfort in the upper back between the shoulder blades
– Pain/discomfort in the neck, jaw or teeth
– Dizziness and or nausea
– Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue or weakness
– Unusual shortness of breath
The Women’s Heart Center at Saint Luke’s Hospital is a unique place where women receive specialized heart screenings, risk assessments and cardiac disease prevention in a medical environment that feels more like a spa. The center offers Heart Wellness Packages, vascular screenings and nutritional consultation. A doctor’s referral or insurance is not required. Services are payable by cash, check or charge only and gift cards are available. Recognizing that couples share the same risk factors, a For the Man in Your Life package is also available.
Source: Saint Luke’s Hospital