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Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer
Clinical Cardiologist
Methodist DeBakey
Heart Center
While most women know the importance of getting regular screenings to prevent conditions like breast cancer and osteoporosis, another disease prevalent in women is often overlooked: heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women. According to the American Heart Association, nearly twice as many women die of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases than from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Yet many women still do not realize their risk.

"Unfortunately, heart disease is not on the radar screen for
a lot of women," says Karla Kurrelmeyer, M.D., clinical cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center. "Women still see it as a man's disease or an older woman's disease and that is not necessarily true."

Know Your Risk
There are several risk factors that increase a woman's chances of developing heart disease.

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Family history of heart disease

Additionally, mental stress, depression and low levels of estrogen before menopause can put women at significant risk.

Pay Close Attention to Symptoms
Women often delay going to the hospital after a heart attack, which increases damage to their hearts. One reason for this is symptoms in women are often different from men. A well-known symptom of heart attack in men is crushing, debilitating chest pain. Chest pain is also common in women – although it is not as prominent or severe. Other symptoms for women include shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, pain in the shoulder or neck or feeling nauseous. Women may attribute these symptoms to other illnesses, such as the flu or pain from arthritis.

"These symptoms have to be taken in context," Dr. Kurrelmeyer says. "If a woman has two or more risk factors, her symptoms must be taken seriously to make sure it's not her heart." If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, time is crucial. Call 911 immediately.

Prevention Is Key
Although some risk factors cannot be altered, such as age or family history, there are ways to prevent or delay the onset of heart disease.

"One of the most important things is to eat a heart-healthy diet and to maintain a healthy weight," Dr. Kurrelmeyer says. Other ways you can lower your risk of heart disease are:

  • Find out if heart disease runs in your family.
  • Don't smoke and stay away from people who do.
  • Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. If too high, you may need medication to keep your blood pressure or cholesterol at the right level.
  • Stay active. Walking 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk.

Spread the Message
Although there has been an increased effort to promote heart health in women, greater awareness is still needed. "The message is still not out there for women and it needs to be," Dr. Kurrelmeyer says.

To learn more about heart disease in women, visit www.debakeyheartcenter.com.





Please join The Methodist Hospital System and take part in Houston's only 5K event dedicated solely to stroke awareness.

2nd Annual Stride4Stroke 5K Run and Walk

Saturday, March 8, 2008, at Rice University

All proceeds will benefit the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute and its outreach education, as well as stroke-related activities at Methodist's community hospitals in Sugar Land, Willowbrook and Baytown areas.

To register or to find out more, log on to www.methodiststride4stroke.com,
e-mail stride4stroke@tmhs.org or call 888-285-5146.

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