According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. It is also preventable. The Emory Women’s Heart Center is a program dedicated to the screening, prevention and treatment of heart disease in women.
The number of women at risk is startling. “Believe it or not, a very small percentage of women fall into the low risk category for heart disease, and those people are mostly in their twenties,” says Stacy Jaskwhich, a nurse practitioner at Emory’s Johns Creek’s Women’s Heart Center. “When you consider family history, age, diet, activity levels and other existing conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, most women are at some level of risk.”
“Most heart disease is preventable, so we want to reach these women, ideally between the ages of 40-60, to evaluate their individual risks and educate them on risk reduction. Starting treatment early, when it’s necessary, will help save lives,” says Gina Lundberg, MD, clinical director of Emory Women’s Heart Center and assistant professor of medicine, Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Lundberg founded Georgia’s first women’s cardiac prevention program in 1998. She also launched the Emory Saint Joseph’s Heart Center for Women in 2007.
The Emory Women’s Heart Center offers comprehensive cardiac risk assessments and education for women at risk for heart disease. If necessary, the Center can also assist with referrals. Screenings are beneficial to those who have a family history of heart disease or risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, smoking, and/or diabetes. The initial two hour screening includes a review of family history of heart disease and a comprehensive global risk assessment that includes age, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, HDL level, blood glucose, smoking history, pregnancy history, hypertension history, and individualized education based on your risk factors. Screenings can be self-referred and start at $75. Gift certificates are also available to purchase for loved ones.
Women often experience symptoms that are different than those experienced from men. For example, women may not experience chest pain. Because of this, women must understand that heart attack symptoms may be similar to those of panic disorders, muscle strain, indigestion or influenza.
Rapid intervention is most effective in beginning stages of a heart attack. Damage to heart muscle starts within 30 minutes of the onset of symptoms, and according to the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC), 85% of heart damage occurs within the first two hours – sometimes irreversible. Call 911 as soon as the first symptoms of a heart attack appear.
