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WHEELING-- Many American women may not realize heart disease is the leading cause of death for them.
Although heart disease often is thought of as a "man's disease," around the same number of women die each year because of it. On Wednesday, Wheeling Hospital hosted its second Heart and Soul event for women who have survived heart disease with healthy food choices and a photo booth. Jo Ann Appenzeller, a heart disease survivor and patient at the hospital, was crowned the Queen of Hearts, and there was also a raffle at the event with all of the money raised from it going back to the cardiac center. The hospital's staff invited its patients who have endured the disease.
"We just want these women to know that they are not alone," Susie Fullerton, registered nurse and chest pain coordinator, said.
"We also want to help educate them more on heart disease."
Gregory Suero, an interventional cardiologist at Wheeling Hospital, spoke to the women who attended and put on a presentation. The presentation started out light-hearted with general fun facts about women that had the crowd laughing, but Suero transitioned into facts about heart disease that hit home for those who were there. Some of the facts included:
∫ Cardiovascular diseases and strokes cause 1 in 3 women's death each year, killing approximately one women every 80 seconds.
∫ Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.
∫ Fewer women than men survive their first heart attack.
∫ An estimated 44 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases.
∫ About 5.8 percent of all white women, 7.6 percent of black women and 5.6 percent of Mexican American women have coronary artery disease.
A patient of Suero and heart disease survivor, Ashley Dheel, took the stage with him and explained her experience. She thought she just had anxiety, but what was really going on is that Dheel had multiple blockages in her arteries that led to open heart surgery. Dheel said she was blessed to be at the event and grateful that she is alive.
Becky Brooks, who had also had complications with her heart, said she thought she had heartburn and one day walked up steps, which made it hard for her to breathe. Someone had told her to go get checked, and Brooks had to receive a stent.
"I feel good now, but it has been eight years since and it is on my mind every single day," Brooks said. "I think about it every day, you know, if something just feels off in my body. Physically I feel fine, but mentally it affects me."
It is important to know the symptoms of heart attack in women, so watch out for unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, arms feeling weak or heavy, indigestion, sleep disturbance and shortness of breath. During a heart attack, someone might feel those same symptoms plus dizziness, nausea and a cold sweat. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use can be risk factors for heart disease. Suero said people should keep track of their blood pressure, get active, lower stress levels and decrease smoking and alcohol intake. Making healthy food choices is also something that people should do to lower their risk of heart disease, which means eat more fruits and vegetables rather than foods with excessive sugar, sodium and saturated fats.
"Women are not aware this (heart disease) is the No. 1 killer. It's not breast cancer, it is heart disease," Suero said. "So we need to raise awareness, and we have to let women know that they need to take care of themselves. They need to be aware of the symptoms so they can come to the hospital and get help in time. They will spend much more time in the hospital or even die if they do not do what they need to do for their health."