Many Myths Surround Link Between Women And Heart Disease
Despite the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women, many women still believe that heart disease is more of a mans illness. According to the American Heart Association, one in two women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 27 who will eventually die of breast cancer.
Many women have a false sense of security when it comes to their risk for heart disease because of misinformation, says Rhonda Hettinger, nurse practitioner at River Cities Cardiology and Clark Memorial Hospital.
Myth #1 - Men are more susceptible to heart disease than women:
According to Hettinger, this is true for women who are premenopausal. However, within 10 years after completing menopause, their risk for coronary artery disease equals that of a man.
Myth #2 - Men who have heart disease are more likely to die from the disease than women:
Actually, women fare far worse than men when it comes to heart disease. Because women develop heart disease 10 years later than men, they also may be dealing with other health problems, such as hypertension or diabetes. This makes recovering from a heart attack much more difficult. Also, many women die with their first heart attack, or within one year afterwards.
Myth #3 The warning signs for a heart attack are the same for men and women:
Though chest pain, pressure, and tightness are the most common warning signs of a heart attack, how that pain presents itself may be different for women than men. Men tend to experience chest pain. However, women may experience pain in the shoulder, neck, back, jaw, throat, and teeth. They may experience no chest discomfort or pain at all. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and shortness of breath are also very common warning signs in women.
Myth #4 All standard diagnostic tests are reliable for women:
Studies have shown that the exercise stress test and the ventriculogram have a high incidence of false negatives in women. The most reliable diagnostic test is the echocardiogram, which is 90 percent accurate in detecting single-vessel disease.
Myth #5 All heart medications react the same for men and women:
Certain cardiac medications pose greater side effects and complications in women than in men. For instance, women receiving thrombolytic therapy have a slightly higher mortality rate than men on the same program. Hettinger recommends consulting your physician if you experience any side effects from heart medications.
Myth #6 Women recover as well as men after coronary artery bypass graft surgery:
Unfortunately, women tend to experience more complications after the surgery than men because of their advanced age, increased risk factors, and usually poorer health. Though the five to ten year survival rates are the same for both genders, women experience less angina relief and more symptoms overall.
Women should know their risks and be concerned about heart disease. They need to take action now to prevent complications later, says Hettinger. She suggests exercising; following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet; and quitting smoking as the best way to avoid heart disease.
If you would like to know more about women and heart disease, Rhonda Hettinger, NP-C, will be discussing this topic at Clark Memorial Hospital on June 21 from noon to 1 p.m. To make a reservation for the free luncheon, please call 284-3754. Or visit www.clarkmemorial.org for the latest information on treatment and prevention options.
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