Heart disease is more deadly for women than it is for men

Staff Writer

If you’re a woman who thinks breast cancer is your worst enemy, listen up.

Every year since 1984 more women than men die of stroke and heart disease.

Within the first year after suffering a heart attack, 38 percent of women die as opposed to 25 percent of men, said Patricia Grady, director of the Lifestyles Management Institute at Beverly Hospital.

The flip-flop in gender statistics has experts speculating about the disease traditionally classified as a male malady.

Studies show that women who smoke, lead stressful lives balancing demanding careers with family responsibilities, have a high-fat diet and experience hormonal changes after menopause are at a higher risk for cardiac disorders.

But reluctance by the medical community to identify and treat certain women as risks for the disorders, plus women’s own lack of awareness in recognizing symptoms, has added to the phenomenon.

“Whole studies show that many (women’s) primary care doctors don’t discuss those factors of heart disease,” said Grady. “There is a bias there in the medical community. Even once a woman is diagnosed, she is not referred on to as many tests or treatment services as her male counterpart,” she said.

In the past, medical therapies for women were tested more in men than women. Male treatment strategies were randomly applied to women. But more women are now included in trials, Grady said.

“It’s getting much better, but there is room to improve,” she said.

There is even some thought that a woman’s smaller anatomy and perhaps smaller blood vessels might be a factor in heart disease, she said.

While research continues, Grady and the Lifestyles Management Institute forge ahead offering health screenings and programs that may identify a population with, or at risk for chronic diseases, and ways to prevent and treat them.

The community-based health and disease management center for men, women and their families also includes educational services, support groups and therapies to help people achieve goals for living healthy lives.

Part of its mission is to educate patients about diseases they may be pone to.

“At the core of any disease are factors (like) genetics and lifestyle habits that predispose you,” she said.

“Early detection and screening helps to increase individuals’ knowledge about what they might have to deal with,” she said.

Grady said women, like men, need to ask themselves about their family’s history, the disease processes that are prevalent and what lifestyle choices can lead them down the road to develop those diseases.

“You’ve been dealt cards and have to play the best hand,” she said of genetics and family history.

Studies by The American Heart Association show that because women play critical roles in society as caregivers and nurturers to their families and loved ones, they can easily neglect their own health.

Most women believe their worst enemy is breast cancer, not heart disease, Grady said.

“It’s amazing how truly many women are unaware of heart disease,” Grady said. “You can look back over their life and see there have been certain choices that predispose them,” she said.

She said once women experience menopause, there is a sharp upward curve toward heart disease.

Heart attacks can be small or major, but symptoms for women can be very different from the classic crushing chest pain men usually experience, Grady said.

She said women experience more fatigue, out of the ordinary tiredness, are more inclined to have shortness of breath, pain in their back between the shoulder blades, and often suffer intestinal symptoms like nausea that can clearly be confused with other disorders.

Since the average age a woman suffers a heart attack is about 55 as opposed to 45 in men, there can be higher complications for women, she said.

Hormone replacement therapy, once touted as the answer to menopausal women suffering with hot flashes while keeping their brains sharp and their hearts healthy, has been scrapped by most women after studies proved otherwise.

“We thought the combination of progesterone and estrogen was beneficial,” said Grady. “It shows clearly that is not the case. The study now is on estrogen alone and its possible benefits.”

But she said women must learn more about treatments and how they will affect them individually.

“If you have a family history of breast cancer, estrogen therapy would be totally inappropriate,” she said.

Lifestyle changes are important too.

Nutrition and exercise are undisputed health benefits for everyone, but despite the growing trend of health enthusiasts sweating it out in exercise regimens at local health clubs, the majority of people are still eating high fat foods, smoking and are obese, Grady said.

She said many working mothers are choosing quicker menus for their families that are less healthful and some women lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Beverly Hospital can help women, men and their families make healthy choices, Grady said.

The hospital has been providing general educational forums, women’s health issues and conducting on-site screenings regularly for more than a decade. But as of last November the coordinated programs were combined into one building where people can walk in and get free screenings for blood pressure, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes care, heart failure management, pulmonary risk reduction services, anticoagulation management, body mass index and participate in therapies such as massage, yoga, Reike and fitness programs.

Grady, a former critical care nurse for both men and women, vigorously advocated for the multidimensional program after seeing people coming in under tragic circumstances over and over that lead to major cardiac events.

“I saw back then a need and am so pleased to have this program that will effect a greater change in people’s lives,” she said.

She said the institute is for all people, not just those with cardiac issues.

“Cardiac (disorders) may be the reason to come in, but we provide an opportunity for people to come to receive all services to address all needs,” she said. “Anyone can go to Beverly hospital.”

A trial tele-medicine program is being conducted for the elderly at the institute where complete check-ups, including monitoring heart and lung sounds, weight gain, blood pressure, blood sugars, and oxygen levels can be done over the telephone. She refers to the telephone checkups as “virtual visits,” where patients and medical personnel can actually see each other and communicate during the exams.

The pilot program is being paid for through a state grant that enables the institute to make specific medical decisions based on critical clinical criteria for older people with numerous health conditions who can’t drive to all the appointments they have.

For women, Grady said there are fundamental factors they must be aware of for better health.

“First, understand what risk factors are present in your life and how to address each. Understand the importance of exercise and good nutrition and importance of balance — everything in moderation,” she said.

“And you must be an advocate for your own personal health management care.”

The Lifestyles Management Institute is located at Beverly Hospital Hunt Center at 75 Lindall St., Danvers, Ma. 01923.

For more information, people may call 1-888-253-0800 or e-mail: pgrady@nhs-healthlink.org.