Women; this article is for you; heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of premature death in women

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“You have to advocate for yourself and if you have a doctor who dismisses you, then you have to find another one who will help.” Michelle Logeot

It started off as weakness and fatigue. She was sweating a lot for months, but her symptoms were dismissed. When she went to the doctor, she was misdiagnosed so many times. She was told she had anxiety, depression, menopause, a cold, flu, pneumonia, a prolapsed vagina, kidney stones. They wouldn’t listen to her until she flatlined. Finally, the proper tests revealed she had multiple blockages in her coronary arteries and had to have a procedure to open three of her arteries with stents.

The story above is about a woman named Michelle Logeot. Unfortunately, her story, as devastating as it is, is not unique.

Women; this article is for you. I really need you to take in the information that I am about to provide, because it will save your life. Over the last few years, I have either witnessed, or heard stories of women having hearts and strokes. It seems that since the rollout of the vaccination, I am hearing it more and more, but that is a different topic for a different day. This week, it is imperative that you know what to look for and know why you must take heed of your health.

Facts; women tend to prioritize the health needs of their family members over their own. Women take on the role of a caregiver and are more likely to experience negative health consequences as a result. We are working harder, and on average earning less than men. Research continues to highlight that people living on low incomes are more likely to die earlier and to suffer more illnesses than those with higher incomes. When your focus is on surviving, it affects the attention, care and love that you give yourself.

It doesn’t help that research also shows that: South Asian, Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic and Chinese North American women have greater risk factors for cardiovascular disease (Heart & Stroke Foundation).

Women’s bodies are not the same as men’s – and neither are their lives. Biological differences mean that females face distinct risk factors, they are more likely to experience certain types of heart and brain conditions, and social differences affect their health. Some progress has been made but not enough and the consequences are stark: Heart disease and stroke claimed the lives of 32,271 women in Canada in 2019 – one woman’s life every 16 minutes (Heart & Stroke Foundation).

Women face distinct risk factors for heart disease and stroke – and at different points in their lives, they are more likely to experience certain types of heart conditions, they can be impacted differently by heart disease and stroke, and they can experience different signs and symptoms of heart attack from men. That last piece is what we need to pay attention too, and I was pleased to see the work that the Heart & Stroke team is doing to:

• Expand the research conducted on women’s heart and brain health
• Raise awareness around women’s unique signs, symptoms and risks
  Catalyze efforts to transform health systems to improve how heart and brain care is provided to women

As I combed through the information, I found some noteworthy points that I want to share with you. According to the latest Heart & Stroke national polling data:

• Nearly 40% of people in Canada do not realize that heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of premature death in women
• Only 11% of women in Canada can name one or more of women’s specific risk factors for heart disease and stroke
• Many of the tests used to diagnose a heart attack were developed and tested on men and many guidelines for heart disease and stroke still fail to adequately address women’s needs
• Half of women who experience heart attacks have their symptoms go unrecognized
• Gender-affirming hormone therapy puts trans women at increased risk for stroke, blood clots and heart attacks
• Women are more likely to experience Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a transient heart condition triggered by severe stress
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which also mostly affects women, is a common cause of heart attacks in younger women and during pregnancy or childbirth

I had no idea that women faced such distinct risk factors for heart disease and stroke – and at different points in our lives including pregnancy and menopause. Disturbingly, we acquire cardiovascular risk factors at a faster rate as we age than men and some ‘traditional’ risk factors have a greater impact.

What is crucial to note here is that each of us experience different signs and symptoms of heart attack. Some conditions such as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are more common in women, and more women die of stroke and heart failure. Women who experience STEMI or NSTEMI – two of the three main types of heart attacks — are more likely than men to die or develop heart failure.

Women can experience different signs and symptoms of heart attack.

• Women are more likely to experience discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or upper belly; shortness of breath; nausea; or vomiting than men.
• Most women experience more than one symptom, yet men are more likely to simply report chest pain.

I want to end this by asking you to not just read this article but share it with your friends and family members. Yes, I know that this was a lot of information, but it is up to you learn your body, know what is happening, and pay attention to the red flags, and signals that your body sends you.