According to the CDC, 44% of women are living with some form of heart disease. Take a moment and think about yourself and the women in your life. Your professional and personal lives are busy, nurturing your families, careers, and a whirlwind of other responsibilities. These mounting pressures can be physically and mentally overwhelming. Often, stress along with other risk factors, can sadly be fatal for many American women.
February, SSM Health is going red for women to bring awareness to heart and vascular health while joining the effort to end heart disease and stroke in women.
“Heart attacks are random events, but significant stress can cause them,” says Ashley Hofer, NP in the cardiology department at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital. “Women often have different heart attack symptoms than men. Traditionally, the public is trained to look for symptoms like radiating chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating, but often, for women especially, a heart attack can feel like acid reflux, back pain, or even a toothache.”
Ashley was 37-years old when she had a heart attack. “I had classic symptoms like pain at the center of my chest. I remember feeling like an elephant was sitting on me. At the time I was working 70 hours a week and was sleep deprived, so I didn’t think about it much.”
Discomfort or pain that doesn’t improve is one of the many ways the body tells us something is happening and that it’s a good idea to get checked out. As Ashley’s day progressed her symptoms got more intense.
Ashley recalls, “I felt the pain travel from my shoulder down my arm, so I decided to go to the Emergency Room (ER). Even with feeling this pain I still thought I was being silly and making a big deal out of nothing. I thought for sure the ER staff would tell me I just needed a nap and to cut back on working so many hours. Afterall, I am young and healthy there is nothing wrong with my heart. But when my test results came back that day in the ER it all became so real in that instant. Due to my arteries being on the smaller side, compounded with the stress I was feeling – I had a heart attack.”
Mental and emotional health are directly related to heart health. Many women feel like they must do everything and be the best at everything for everyone. “Sometimes we feel like we must go above and beyond to prove our value within this world. As moms especially we feel like we can’t show weakness,” says Ashley. It is important that women feel they have a platform to voice their concerns, advocate for their health, and better understand their health risk factors.
SSM Health has a wide network of doctors who work together to help patients lead healthier lifestyles and often help reverse the effects of disease. Annual wellness visits with a primary care provider or heart specialist are key to preventing heart disease.
We have trusted heart and vascular specialists throughout the Midwest who are specially trained to provide heart care at all levels, so you and your heart get the care you deserve. Take this quick and easy risk assessment to learn about your heart health. It takes just a few minutes to complete, and your results are generated immediately.
