Basic HTML Version
the most common is coronary heart dis-
ease (CHD), which can lead to heart at-
tacks. CHD results when plaque buildup
narrows the heart’s arteries. Plaque is
composed of fat, cholesterol, calcium and
other material found in the blood. Even
worse, an artery can become blocked by
clots, triggering a heart attack.
CASE IN POINT
Kathy Hunter’s* diagnosis—of not only
coronary heart disease, but also periph-
eral and lipid heart disease—changed her
life dramatically. Before the diagnosis,
she had few symptoms, but those she did
have were clear signs:
shortness of breath,
problems with walking and some tightness
in her upper right leg
.
Hunter has had heart disease for more
than 12 years. She experienced her first
heart attack on December 31, 1999,
which led to her first heart surgery, a
double bypass.
“As I got ready for bed, I couldn’t
breathe,” she said. “I called my son to take
me to the hospital and was admitted.”
Hunter’s decision to seek help saved
her life. Some routine tests were run, and
a couple of days later, she was rushed
back to surgery, where a graft was at-
tached to her aorta. A few years later, she
underwent additional surgery to open
the coronary artery on the right side of
her heart. Two years after that, she had
another aortic graft placed.
IF YOU ARE a woman who cares about
health, it’s crucial to embrace the health
of your heart.
Think heart disease is just a man’s
problem? Here are some facts:
Each year, 1 in 4 deaths among U.S.
women is from heart disease—the
leading killer, reports the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Heart disease, stroke and other car-
diovascular diseases kill more Ameri-
can women each year than the next
five leading causes of death combined.
Women are less likely than men to
survive a heart attack.
Of all the threats to a woman’s heart,
Heart facts
for women
DO YOU BELIEVE HEART DISEASE CAN’T STRIKE YOU?
FOR YOUR HEART’S SAKE, GET
ACTIVE! NEED IDEAS HOW TO?
VISIT
.
FROM THE “FAST FINDER”
DROP-DOWN MENU,
SELECT “FITNESS AND EXERCISE.”
ALSO SEE PAGE 15 FOR THE
MY HOSPITAL CARD LUNCHEON
“STEPS TO A HEALTHY HEART.”
*Name has been changed to protect patient privacy.
6 •
PARTNERS