Women finally seem to be getting the message that heart disease is a threat to their health. But many of them still don't realize that the number of women who die of heart disease each year is more than double the number of women who die of breast and lung cancers combined.
The good news is that there's a lot women can do to reduce their risk of developing heart disease, starting with making their health a priority.
"Women tend to take care of others and put their own needs last," says Cynthia Taub, MD, director of Non-invasive Cardiology for Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center and assistant professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "But women have to focus on their own needs so they can stay healthy enough to care for themselves and those they love."
Women also need to know their personal risk for heart disease.
"We can't do anything about some heart disease risk factors, such as increasing age, race and family history," says J. Julia Shin, MD, a cardiologist at Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center and assistant professor of Medicine at Einstein. "But women can lower their risk by quitting smoking, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and controlling diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol-conditions that increase their chances of developing heart disease."
Doctors say women should also learn the symptoms of a heart attack and how they differ between men and women. While chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom in both women and men, women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, pain in the back or jaw, or nausea and vomiting.
"If women suspect they are having a heart attack, they should seek medical attention right away," says Hannah I. Lipman, MD, a Heart Center cardiologist and assistant professor of Medicine at Einstein. "Every second counts. If women are aware of the warning signs and seek care early enough, we can often provide treatments that save their lives and limit the damage to their hearts.
Unique Care for Women's Unique Needs
For years, doctors considered heart disease a man's condition and often dismissed symptoms in women. That's no longer the case. Montefiore Medical Center recognizes the uniqueness of both genders and has a diverse, specialized staff that is committed to raising the awareness of the dangers of heart disease in women and has the expertise to handle the different issues facing both men and women with the condition.
While females comprise a small percentage of cardiologists across the country, the number of women in cardiology is growing at Montefiore. The hospital has recruited a significant number of women to build its cardiology practice. Among those physicians is Daphne Hsu, MD, a leading pediatric cardiologist and professor of Pediatrics, who is helping to strengthen the Pediatric Heart Center at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore.
"Women are more likely than men to die within the first year after suffering a heart attack," Dr. Hsu says. "So Montefiore cardiologists are vigilant about assessing women's risk for heart disease, encouraging women to make lifestyle changes to reduce their risk and treating heart-related problems in women aggressively."
Cardiologists at Montefiore not only treat heart disease, they also specialize in congestive heart failure, geriatric cardiology and other cardiac conditions.
© 2010 Montefiore Medical Center