"''The focus should be on ischemia and ischemic heart disease, particularly for women, and that women are not adequately served when we don't focus on that, when we just focus on the anatomy, the obstruction of [major heart] blood vessels."
His and Hers Heart Disease
Up to Half of Women May Not Have ‘Traditional’ Heart Disease, Experts Say(continued)
Heart Disease: Men vs. Women continued...
As a result, treatment strategies aren't optimized for women, Bairey Merz says, because they often don't fit the mold.
''The focus should be on ischemia and ischemic heart disease, particularly for women, and that women are not adequately served when we don't focus on that, when we just focus on the anatomy, the obstruction of [major heart] blood vessels."
Among other points discussed in the review:
More women than men die annually in the U.S. from heart disease -- 455,000 women compared to 410,000 men.
Women are more likely than men to die from a heart attack and are more frequently hospitalized for heart failure.
Women have higher average levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and predictor of heart disease.
The Framingham Risk Score, a traditional measure of heart disease risk, classifies more than 90% of women as low risk. A newer tool, the Reynolds Risk Score, may work better for women.
For women with heart disease symptoms, she says: "Just because your angiogram is normal doesn't mean you aren't having ischemic symptoms
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20091012/his-and-hers-heart-disease ?page=2
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Women may have both ischemic HD & large vessel blockage
- By martzj
- Posted October 19, 2009 at 11:07 am · 3 replies
- In Advice for other women with heart disease
- Shared with the public
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- By Kennarina
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 11:43 am
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Hi Jaynie
This was brilliant coverage of this topic - I ran it on my little blog as well.
It's particularly important because it addresses those women who, like me, had initial cardiac tests that were "normal" in spite of having severe cardiac symptoms. Just recently, my cardiologist has also diagnosed me with microvascular disease (as well as the 99% LAD blockage that landed me in hospital with a heart attack last year). This is actually GOOD NEWS because it sure helps to explain a lot of the ongoing symptoms that have been puzzling us since Day One - despite "normal" tests.
Thanks for mentioning this subject here!
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
- By martzj
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 1:41 pm
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Hi Kenna,
"For women with heart disease symptoms, she says: "Just because your angiogram is normal doesn't mean you aren't having ischemic symptoms"
I found this comment particularly brilliant on her part. And it explained why my ex, who'd had quintuple bypass with no muscle damage (i.e. ischemia) felt great from age 44 onward. I had the opposite experience of continuing ischemic damage, along with stents that partially reblocked fairly quickly...it is the slow growing ischemic banding around dead heart muscle that constantly aches and sometimes spasms in my case. Nemesis. My ex never understood why I didn't feel just great and 'fixed' like he did and even attacked the validity of various blood-CHL tests. Which is why he is has been my ex for quite a while now : )
Taking a little walk to your blog site now,
Jaynie
- By Annie7
- Posted October 21, 2009 at 9:13 am
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I have been diagnosed with small vessel disease (microvascualr angina) for 4-5 years now even though I had this for years before being believed. I had several stents placed for "diffuse plaque" and this did not take away the attacks of the severe angina attacks. The stents were not needed. The former doctors failed to recognize the real problems. Had I been properly diagnosed early on, I would not have suffered the MI's and all the other problems I have now. My story has been written up in Journals.
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