Women urged not to ignore early signs of heart disease
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WINTERSVILLE -- Lisa Kush, a nurse practitioner board-certified in family medicine and cardiovascular medicine, recalled as a nursing student, her early fascination with the heart and the words of her instructor, Yvonne Myers: "Time is muscle and knowledge is power."
As guest speaker for Trinity Health System's third-annual Go Red for Women Luncheon Friday at the St. Florian Event Center, Kush said many consider heart disease as a problem experienced by older men and signaled by a sharp pain in the chest.
But symptoms of heart disease go beyond that, and one in five women in America die from heart disease each year, often because they didn't recognize other signs and failed to see a doctor earlier, said Kush.
"Heart disease can hit anybody at any age at any time," she said, adding women are more likely than men to have more subtle symptoms, including pain or pressure in other areas, including the neck and jaw.
Kush said muscular pain or tightness, especially after exerting one's self; shortness of breath and nausea all can indicate heart problems but the first symptom for many women is fatigue.
Unfortunately, many shrug it off, attributing it to getting older, and don't think to see their doctor, she said, adding that a woman may wait up to 54 hours before seeking emergency treatment.
"If we wait too long and have a heart attack and heart muscle is damaged, we may never get that (strength) back," said Kush.
She noted many women wait because they put the needs of others before their own, but women also share another common trait, an intuition when something is wrong.
"Your mom will call you and say, 'I know something's going on with you,' but often will ignore the same feeling when it involves her," said Kush.
She said in addition to knowing potential symptoms, it's important to know common risk factors, including smoking, weight, inactivity and chronic health conditions such as diabetes.
Kush strongly urged all smokers to quit while adding anyone can increase their level of activity by parking farther away to make walking part of their daily routine.
She added getting a good night's rest, between six and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, also is important.
Kush said everyone should make a habit of having their blood pressure and cholesterol level measured.
"We really need to tackle these things and be cognizant of them," she advised.
The many attending the luncheon also heard from Jaime Baker, Wendy Anderson and Peggy Riccadonna who, as American Heart Association Women of Impact, encouraged women not to make light of physical signs or changes that may indicate a serious health risk.
Riccadonna noted her mother suffered from heart disease at an early age, which taught her and her siblings not to take their own health for granted.
Laurie Labishak, Trinity's marketing director and a 2022 Woman of Impact, noted in addition to being American Heart Month, February is Black History Month, adding that 49 percent, nearly half, of Black American women have been diagnosed with heart disease, but only one in five believes they are at risk.
She advised all women to carefully monitor and see to their physical state so they can be there for others.
"We really do need to pay attention to our bodies. We know our bodies better than anyone," said Labishak.
Jessica Kelley, community outreach specialist for Trinity, expressed thanks to the many organizations, businesses and individuals who sponsored the luncheon, which raised funds for cardiovascular equipment used by Trinity staff.