By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
“At 55 years old I had a heart attack and I’m a survivor,” said Susan Graham.
Hospital Food and Nutrition Coordinator Graham never saw it coming.
“I was completely shocked. I still am when I think about it,” she said.
“Heart disease in women is an incredibly prevalent issue. It is the number one killer in the United States — far surpassing all cancers combined in women,” said Cardiologist Dr. Brett Sealove of the Meridian Cardiovascular Network.
Nationwide, one in three women dies of heart disease and stroke each year. The American Heart Association indicates an estimated 43 million women are affected by cardiovascular diseases. In New Jersey, heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women with more than 18,000 lives lost each year.
“Women and heart disease is underrepresented predominately because it used to be considered an old man’s disease. And back 10 to 20 years ago, women weren’t in any clinical trials. Now we’re realizing it’s under-appreciated, under-represented and often under-recognized,” Sealove said.
The symptoms men typically experience when they’re having a heart attack include shortness of breath, sweatiness and extreme chest pain and pressure that often radiates to the jaw or left arm. Dr. Sealove says the problem is the majority of the women show non-classic symptoms.
“I had a little discomfort between my shoulder blades, no chest pain, no shortness of breath. So I thought maybe I have some indigestion,” Graham said.
An avid runner, Graham always stuck to a healthy diet and lifestyle and went for regular check-ups.
“I didn’t fit any of the molds for a heart attack,” she said.
So why don’t women show the classic symptoms of a heart attack?
“Well the answer really is nobody knows. But there probably is something in the hormonal milieu shall we say that the estrogen and hormonal balance in women is just different then men and they can present very differently,” Sealove said.
In an effort to end heart disease and stroke in women, the American Heart Association launched a national movement called Go Red For Women. So today, red’s the color of choice in businesses and hospitals throughout the state.
Dr. Sealove says women need to pay attention to risk factors like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and lack of physical activity.
“My message to women is make sure you have regular check-ups and don’t hold back if you have little symptoms that you might think, ‘Oh that’s nothing,’ because frankly it could be, it’s something,” Graham said.
Today Graham feels fortunate to call herself a survivor.
“I’m alive frankly. I’ve got family, grandchildren that I enjoying right now. I would miss out on that,” she said.