Posted: 1/31/2018
Parkland providers urge women to separate facts from myths
Like most women, Mesquite resident Maria Magdalena Franco wasn’t worried about heart disease, even when she began feeling extreme fatigue. Active and fit, she enjoyed exercising and Zumba classes, but in 2016 at just 41 years old, things changed.
“I would come home from work and all I wanted to do was lie down,” she said. “I had difficulty breathing and I knew something wasn’t right.”
Franco consulted her primary care physician and was referred to a cardiologist at Parkland Health & Hospital System. After two surgeries and three stents to open blocked arteries, Franco now goes to cardiac rehab at Parkland three times a week with a new outlook on her life and health.
“I’ve changed my diet a lot. I avoid salt, sodas and fatty foods. It doesn’t happen overnight but we have to change habits we grew up with. Dealing with stress can be difficult, too. I try not to over-think or over-worry. What I do is live for today because none of us know if we’ll be here tomorrow,” she said, smiling.
According to Sandeep R. Das, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, Director of Acute Coronary Care at Parkland and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, there are many myths about women and heart disease, including:
• Heart disease is mostly just a problem affecting men
• It is less of a threat to women than breast cancer
• It only affects older people
• If you don’t have a family history of heart disease, you’re safe
• Only overweight and inactive people get heart disease
• Heart attack symptoms in women are easy to recognize, like chest pain
• There’s nothing one can do to change their risk of heart disease
But the facts tell a different story:
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., killing one woman every 60 seconds
• Only 1 in 5 American women believes heart disease is her greatest health threat
• Women are more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease, but 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer compared to 1 in 3 of heart disease
• It’s the leading cause of death for African American and white women and among Hispanic women it causes as many deaths as cancer each year
• The same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the U.S.
• Two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms
• Heart attack symptoms in men and women are often different
• Women are more likely than men to have atypical heart attack symptoms like pain in the neck, jaw, abdomen or back, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue
• Women are less likely to call 9-1-1 when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack
• More than 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease
• Heart disease affects women of all ages; while the risk increases with age, other factors like lifestyle, diet, tobacco use and hereditary conditions can increase a younger person’s risk
• It’s possible to be young, thin and fit but still have other risk factors for heart disease that should be identified, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure
• If you have a family history of heart disease, there are still things you can do to dramatically reduce your risk
“Tobacco use, high blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol are key risk factors for heart disease, along with obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity,” Dr. Das said. “Women with diabetes are also at higher risk.”
Franco urges women to not ignore their symptoms. “Go to your doctor. Your body is smart. It gives you signals when something isn’t right.”
To reduce your risk of heart disease, Dr. Das recommends that women:
• Know your risk factors; have your blood pressure checked regularly, along with your cholesterol and triglycerides
• Ask your doctor if you need to be tested for diabetes, which raises your risk of heart disease
• Quit smoking
• Make healthy food choices, eat lean proteins and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Lower your stress level
• Increase your physical activity level
On the treadmill at Parkland’s cardiac rehab gym recently, Franco talked about her goals. “Parkland staff really educated me about my condition and how to lower my risks. I want to lose weight and take control of my health. Everything else falls into place later,” she said.
In honor of American Heart Month, Parkland cardiology staff will host a free heart health fair to raise awareness about the disease and provide information about risk factors. The heart fair will be held on Friday, Feb. 9 from 11 am. - 1:30 p.m. in the private dining room adjacent to the cafeteria at Parkland Memorial Hospital, 5200 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235.
To learn more about services at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com