Go Red for Women
 In
2004, the American Heart Association launched
"Go Red for Women" to drive home the message that
heart disease is the leading cause of death for
women.
This year, the campaign encourages
all women to wear red for awareness and to visit
their health care provider to learn how they can
incorporate heart-healthy habits into their life.
Did you know heart disease causes more deaths
in women than all cancers combined?
Laura
Demopolous, MD, cardiologist at Penn Medicine
at Radnor, is the director of women's cardiovascular
health. "Heart disease far exceeds all other causes
of death in women," said Demopolous. "More women
than men die from cardiovascular disease in the
United States each year."
Why are women at greater risk than men? Along
with smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and
physical inactivity, the following factors play
a big role in how and when women get treatment
for heart disease.
Women don't take the truth to heart.
A 2003 American Heart Association study of over
1,000 women showed many lack the understanding
of the dangers of heart disease. The study found
only 13 percent of women in America believe that
heart disease and stroke are the greatest health
threat to women. Heart attacks kill six times
as many women as breast cancer, yet many women
still aren't aware of their personal risk.
Women underestimate the severity of the problem.
A study published in the American Journal
of Medicine reports that women who had major
heart disease problems were likely to rate their
disease as "mild to moderate" - just as many men
with far less-severe problems did. Women's perceptions
and beliefs about cardiac disease affect the treatment
they seek.
When having a heart attack, it takes women nearly
three to four hours to get to the emergency room
compared to only an hour on average for men. More
women tend to live alone and/or don't want to
bother anyone with "funny pains."
Any chest discomfort that lasts longer than 15
minutes must be taken seriously. Earlier treatment
significantly reduces the chance of severe damage
or death.
Women are harder to diagnose.
Diagnosing heart disease and risk for heart attack
in women is complicated by several factors.
First, stress testing, one of the most common
diagnostic tools for heart disease, results in
a significant number of false positives in women.
Second, the symptoms of heart disease that women
experience, such as fatigue, shortness of breath
and jaw pain, are often mistaken for other conditions
and problems. Nearly 75 percent of women with
heart disease are over the age of 65 and diagnosis
may be complicated by other medical problems with
similar symptoms.
Penn Cardiac Care physicians recognize and understand
these symptoms and how they differ from those
experienced by men. They use several specialized
stress tests that are more accurate for women,
including heart imaging with nuclear scans or
echocardiography.
Women may not get the same treatment as men.
According to the American Heart Association, about
38 percent of women report doctors discussing
heart disease when analyzing their health. Because
women may be overlooked when it comes to heart
disease, they need to know the right questions
to ask their health care providers.
Women's risk increases after menopause.
Before menopause, estrogen protects women from
heart disease by keeping LDL or "bad"
cholesterol low and HDL or "good" cholesterol
high. For women, the risk of heart disease increases
greatly after menopause, even if the onset is
premature due to a hysterectomy.
"Seven years post-menopause is the time
when cardiac risk increases," says Demopolous.
"Once a woman has heart disease, her prognosis
is somewhat poorer than a man's would be, in part
because of older age and smaller coronary vessels."
Studies now show that post-menopause hormone
replacement therapy (HRT) does not protect against
cardiovascular events. Patients taking HRT to
prevent heart disease, should ask their doctor
about other options for preventative care.
"Despite the many improvements in the medical
and procedural treatment of heart disease," Demopolous
adds, "Women need to focus on prevention through
learning their risks and modifying them."
Know the symptoms of heart disease.
Early diagnosis of heart disease is extremely
important, but can be difficult because symptoms
may not always be present. Below are typical symptoms
of heart disease in women.
- Discomfort, fullness, tightness, squeezing
or pressure in the center of your chest that
comes and goes, or stays for more than a few
minutes
- Pressure or pain that spreads to the upper
back, shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
- Dizziness or nausea
- Clammy sweats, paleness or heart flutters
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety, fatigue
or weakness (especially during physical exertion)
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Difficulty breathing and shortness of
breath
Visit the Penn Cardiac Care web site to learn
more about women
and heart disease and how our physicians can
address the special needs of women, or call 1-800-789-PENN
(7366).
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