We must take care of all women
in our families
“Women call an ambulance for husbands, fathers and
brothers with heart attack symptoms but not for themselves”. Two studies from
the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) presented
recently at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2019,
a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress highlight this very crucial point.
a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress highlight this very crucial point.
The studies included more than 7000 patients with
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Overall, 45% of patients were found
to be treated within the recommended timeframe (within 90 min of diagnosis by
ECG); fewer women than men received timely treatment. Male gender remained an
independent predictor of treatment within the recommended timeframe even after
adjusting for factors that could influence the relationship.
Those who received prompt treatment were less likely to
have a left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) below 40%.
ECG results were transmitted from the ambulance to a
heart attack center in about 40% of patients. In women, the likelihood of ECG
transfer rose with increasing age – from 34% in women aged 54 years and under
to 45% in those aged 75 and above. This means that ECG results for younger
women were less often sent to the hospital. On the other hand, the rate of
transfer of ECG results to the hospital in men was around 40% regardless of
age.
Heart disease has generally never been thought to be a
woman’s disease. But, heart disease is the number one cause of death in
women. Despite this, women do not get diagnosed timely or take treatment
timely.
When a woman complains of symptoms such as
breathlessness, it is passed off, quite often by themselves, as anxiety or
a panic attack.
This is because traditionally, women are the “nurturers”
and “caregivers” and so tend to put the health and well-being of their family
ahead of their own needs. They form the backbone of the family, which holds the
family together. Therefore, women should receive equal attention and care as do
the men in their families.
It is very important to spread awareness on the fact that
women too are prone to serious health problems, which if diagnosed and treated
at the right time can help in preventing further complications.
Heart attacks do occur in women, even young women. It is
important to remember that women are more likely to have atypical signs and
symptoms, which may be the reason for the delay in calling for medical help.
Women are more likely to have pain in the jaw, neck or back (between
the shoulder blades), unexplained weakness, shortness of breath,
cough, dizziness or nausea.
Today is International Women’s Day. The theme for
International Women’s Day this year is “#BalanceforBetter”, which is a
call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.
The day drives home the message that we must take
care of all women in our families, their health and well-being, even if they
don’t do it themselves.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri
Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group
Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart
Care Foundation of India
Past National President
IMA
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