A killer that is responsible for the deaths of 1400 women today, has been identified, but remains at large. Heart Disease has been able to prey on women with little chance of detection until it is too late, taking more victims than all cancers combined.
According to Dr. Norma Keller, chief of clinical cardiology, and director, CCU and Telemetry at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, “What has terrified women for years is breast and other cancers, so women have adequate awareness and acceptance of screening for cancer. Although cancer is important, it is hard to get them thinking about screening beyond that. It is not just the lay public we need to reach about this problem–it is the medical community as well.”
Keller and others have put out a description of Heart Disease and its preferred victims. The serial killer preys on women with various risk factors including smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and is known to prefer women in the same family as other victims. Keller blames some in the medical community for allowing the killer easy access to women.
“Women are referred for testing much less often than men are,” Dr. Keller said. “Their risk factors are not addressed as aggressively. Cardiac disease has always been thought of as a male disease, even in the medical community. Most of the research has been in men with the results extrapolated to women.”
Medicinenet.com has been able to profile Heart Disease in Women specifically. How do you know if you might be its next victim?
Symptoms More Likely in Women
- Indigestion or gas-like pain
- Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained weakness, fatigue
- Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades
- Recurring chest discomfort
- Sense of impending doom
The American Heart Association also provides a profile, and the Women’s Heart Foundation provides facts you should know.
Do not become a victim of Heart Disease. Defend yourself. Know the Facts.
