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Women and Heart Disease

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Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/15/2005 4:55 PM (GMT -6)
More and more women are being looked at a bit closer these days when entering the Emergency Rooms, thanks to the hue and cry of the media and all the dismissals in the past when it came to Women and Heart Disease!

 

I don't mean to leave the men out here, because I know you all are also very deeply affected with Heart Disease and Heart Problems!  It's just that this has been a major subject that has affected so many women and their family's lives. 

 

With this particular issue though, so many women in the past have gone into the ER with symptoms that were not like men's when it came to Heart Attacks (MI's).  I've heard from so many that were sent home and told it was due to menopause, gastric reflux, or in their head, etc. 

 

So please, take a look at this article and let me know what you think and if any of you here would like to discuss more issues re this subject...then just jump on the big band wagon and give your opinions, or let us know what's happened to you!!

 

Teri tongue

 

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/102/106546.htm

 

 

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jtu91952
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2005
Posts : 137
Posted 3/16/2005 5:27 AM (GMT -6)
When i had my first heart attack in April 2000, i was told that it was gastric reflux. I was sent home with a prescription for zantac 150. An hr later i went to the urgent care clinic with severe leg and shoulder pain and shortness of breathe.

The dr there kept me in the room hooked to bp monitors, iv's and oxygen mask. The next thing i knew, i was headed to the hospital in an ambulance. My poor husb. didn't know what was going on. I was kept in the hosp. for four days. I didn't even know i was having a heart attack.
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/16/2005 10:33 AM (GMT -6)
jtu,

 

How lucky you were to be so persistent!!  tongue Way to go!  Many women would have quit.

 

These are the types of stories that I have heard time and time again...I think the majority of Dr.'s are beginning to Listen and "Hear" now, but it's still an issue that women do have to deal with and if it's happening to you~make sure you remain persistent just like jtu did!! yeah

 

Teri

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Patoolla
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2003
Posts : 525
Posted 3/16/2005 4:35 PM (GMT -6)
Oh my, that was too close for comfort jtu!  Glad the doc at the urgent care clinic was better than the first doc!  Sure makes ya wonder about docs!!  sad
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pandacrazy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 1326
Posted 3/16/2005 10:23 PM (GMT -6)
I too was very lucky to have the ER doc that I did. I thought I was having problems with my asthma and fibromyalgia when I went to the ER. If the ER doc had just went by the ekg and blood tests I'd be dead or have alot of damage to the left side of my heart. I'm very lucky the doc decided to do the stress test just to make sure it wasn't my heart. My regular doc was honest with me and told me he would have just done the first 2 tests and sent me home. 2 days after having the stent put in I ended up back in the ER and had a very rude doctor that pretty much said the pain was in my head. Glad I didn't have him for a doc the first time I went in. It's really hard for me to tell what pain is from my heart because of all my health problems which complicate things because they mimic some of the signs of heart problems. Barb
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jtu91952
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2005
Posts : 137
Posted 3/17/2005 8:45 PM (GMT -6)
Sometimes it is hard to tell if you're having a heart attack or if its related to side effects of prescription meds. For example, when that happened to me, i was on toprol xl (beta blocker) which causes my bp to spike, verapamil caused sweating and a host of other drugs i was taking (17 pills). So when i got sweaty, irritable and my right eye blurred, i just thought it was my meds.

I went to urgent care for pain in my legs. But bcuz i was on so many meds, i didn't have a clue what the symtoms of a heart attack was. Since then, my dietitain has given me a plastic card with the symtoms of heart attack and stroke. She's better than all three (endo, cardio & gp) drs at helping me stay healthy.
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/17/2005 11:00 PM (GMT -6)
I'm so glad that you were both able to get your problems worked out!!

 

I have heard tales like this before and I'm sure we'll be hearing more!  But for every case like this, it's happening now more and more often that women's symtoms are being looked at more closely!

 

I just called my Cardio yesterday and told him that I was on my 3rd nitro and was told, 'get to the ER immediately'.  They treated me as if it was heart all the way, but did standardized tests with blood workups, chest x-rays and questions about other things.  But all in all they were directly thinking heart.  Now more than likely because of my past history and I'm known at this hospital and the Heart Hospital of Austin, that helped.  But I've been in there before, where they were trying to tell me it was my Gerd and Asthma and both times, they were proven wrong.  I even go in there now and show them which vein to use for drawing blood and starting IV's or they won't get any blood.  And they listen!

 

So things are improving!

 

Best Wishes!  Teri

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pandacrazy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 1326
Posted 3/19/2005 1:37 AM (GMT -6)
I still don't really know what pain is from what problem. The doctor didn't even think that the pain and breathlessness was from my heart. I think he is wrong though because the pain went away as soon as the stent was in place. The cardiac nurse and I discussed it and we decided if my inhaler isn't working for the asthma that I better call the doc or go to ER after trying nitro. My cardio doc couldn't even tell me what pain to worry about. Don't think they know what to do with us women. Hope your feeling better Teri. talk to ya later. Barb
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/19/2005 10:45 AM (GMT -6)
Barb, we can pose some serious questions when we present ourselves to our Dr.'s with several different diseases.  My PCP tells me "I'm a tough nut to crack." lol  They don't know if it's it's asthma, COPD, or angina acting up, though occasionally it could be my GERD!  They have to 'weed' through all the symptoms and treat everything.  Sometimes that's not so easy when we have multiple diagnoses.

 

Even anxiety can bring on these symptoms.  So if you have a caring Dr., he or she will try their best to figure out the best course of treatment for you as an individual, though it may take some time doing so.  If you trust your Doctor then you must help them as much as you can.

 

Please let me know how you are doing, Barb?!

 

Hugs, Teri

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pandacrazy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 1326
Posted 3/19/2005 11:46 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Teri, when I asked the cardio doc what pain to worry about he simply said he didn't know and that it was hard with my other problems. I've decided not to worry unless my inhaler doesn't work for the asthma and or I have sudden onset of pain in my shoulder and arm. It's not fun trying to figure this all out when you have problems that crop up. I drive my GP nuts with all my problems. Talk to you later. Barb
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Kathlyn1950
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2004
Posts : 462
Posted 3/25/2005 7:36 PM (GMT -6)
Amen about women and heart disease. I went to ER several days before they discovered I had already had a heart attack. The triage nurse took my b/p which was very high for me, knew my risks, and said, "It might be a few hours before you can be seen." I was having pain, but not in my chest or radiating down my arm. Because of her ignoring the possiblitythat it could be heart related, I left to go home because the pain subsided while I was waiting. I feel like she should have done something more. Gosh I'm still ticked about this after a year. My revenge has been to educate other women about heart disease adn their risks.
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/25/2005 7:42 PM (GMT -6)
You go girl!!

 

We always need advocates!! yeah

 

Teri

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Kathlyn1950
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2004
Posts : 462
Posted 3/25/2005 11:03 PM (GMT -6)
Hugs! Teri, good to hear from you!
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/26/2005 9:20 AM (GMT -6)
Wow!  While doing my usual morning reading, I found that women who've had hysterectomies are being identified as having more risk factors for Heart Disease! 

 

I had a hysterectomy in 1996 at age 44 and by age 46 had a significant heart attack.  Fits into that profile.

 

They said having the hysterectomy itself was not the cause, but rather, it seemed to identify women who would be predisposed to having Heart Disease.

I'll let you know if I hear more on this! yeah

 

Teri

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Kathlyn1950
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2004
Posts : 462
Posted 3/26/2005 9:27 AM (GMT -6)
I had a hysterectomy, too. Several years before my heart attack. I had the surgery when I was 46 and the HA when I was 54. Just one more thing to add to the risk list, huh? Ughhh. eyes
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RickyB
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 106
Posted 3/26/2005 2:13 PM (GMT -6)
I ain't a woman but I am married to one and all my sisters are women.my 2 oldest sisters have had heart attacks. and the other one has 5 abdominal stents.my wife is healthy,one of us needs to be.
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/26/2005 8:07 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Ricky, I know you've got a strong family history of heart disease!!~thank goodness your wife is so healthy!  Tell your sister's hello from me and Happy Easter to you and your family!

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

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RickyB
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 106
Posted 3/26/2005 8:18 PM (GMT -6)
will do Teri.wish I could get you and my sisters together.the oldest lives in Moffat and is 51.she had a massive MI 1998 and then lost a leg to diabetes in 2000. next one lives in Rogers and is 49..then the one just older than me is 48 and lives in Temple and owns a bar just north of town at the 305 exit.maybe someday
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/26/2005 8:30 PM (GMT -6)
Yeah, I know what you mean, Ricky...I wish they'd join us on board just to discuss this!  Give them my email, and tell them to write anytime!! yeah

 

Hugs, Teri

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pandacrazy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 1326
Posted 3/27/2005 7:23 AM (GMT -6)
Hey Kathlyn, let that anger go it's bad for your heart. I learned all about how little it takes to affect our body in stress management class for rehab. Very interesting stuff. I love your revenge though. A very healthy revenge. lol. Barb
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Kathlyn1950
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2004
Posts : 462
Posted 3/27/2005 7:31 AM (GMT -6)
I'm a therapist, and sometimes anger can motivate you to do something else, like educate others and make changes. I don't sit around and stew about it, but I do want to help make changes in women's (and people in general) lives so that their medical care will not be neglected. You are correct, hanging on to something in anger and not letting it go to do something else productive can be damaging to your health.
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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/27/2005 9:50 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks Kathlyn!!

 

You have the right attitude!  yeah Hugs, Teri

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Teri16
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2003
Posts : 5230
Posted 3/27/2005 9:53 AM (GMT -6)
Likewise, Barb!

 

We all need to help one another with anything new we hear and try and offer others out there some of what we learn here!  That's what it's all about! tongue

 

Hugs, Teri

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pandacrazy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 1326
Posted 3/28/2005 9:04 AM (GMT -6)

Hi Kathlyn, what a neat position to be in to help people out and you can speak from experience too. Do you ever use biofeedback? I thought that was really cool when we took the stress class. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Thanks Teri, ever since the heart problems in January I like to pass along anything that I've learned about. Barb

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Kathlyn1950
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2004
Posts : 462
Posted 3/28/2005 4:08 PM (GMT -6)
No, I have never learned how to do biofeedback, but I have heard wonderful things about it, and it's great in conjunction with psychotherapy. Some therapists do teach their clients how to do it. I would like to learn how to do it for myself. I do progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and breathing with my clients, though.
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