Well, I am back. My mother is doing well and is resting at home now. She had two "stents" put in, though exactly where I am not sure. A stent is like the spring of a pen, they say, and helps to keep the artery open after angioplasty.
Having a heart attack was a shock for my mom, as well as the rest of the family. To look at her, and her lifestyle, you would not think that she was a candidate. She is a healthy weight, probably under-weight if anything, active with the dog and gardening. However, she was a smoker and that contributed more than anything. Smoking shrinks the arteries and capillaries making it easier for them to become clogged. Her penchant for cheese did the rest.
I was surprised to learn a few things. Heart disease is the number one killer in women, accounting for 32% of all deaths. Over 500,000 women die every year due to heart disease and stroke. Women do not have a heart attack like men, it is often more subtle and 40% of the time goes unnoticed. Most heart attacks in women come in the form of some neck pain, nausea, shortness of breath. Over 1/3 of heart attacks go undiagnosed not only by the women having the attack, but their doctor's as well. In my mother's case, her regular doctor initially shrugged it off as a muscle pull. Thank goodness he had the sense to take a blood test where her enzyme levels indicated that she indeed did have a heart attack, and then ordered the ambulance to take her to Boston for further tests.
She needs to make a few lifestyle changes, but she should make a full recovery. Thanks so much for all your well wishing and prayers, it must have worked, that and the terrific staff at Mass General! Here are a few links for my many women readers to browse and contemplate.
I'm glad that it got diagnosed. I have heard so many stories of heart problems ignored in women. Everyone is aware of the issue with men--but we are supposed to be STRONGER! (HAHA)
Posted by: Margaret | April 04, 2006 at 17:53
good info for all of us to know! Thanks for sharing it and glad your mother is doing well.
Posted by: Krista | April 05, 2006 at 01:34
I'm so pleased that your mother is on the mend. Thanks for this info and the links! Very helpful.
Posted by: Tonya | April 05, 2006 at 15:57
Thanks for an informative post alerting women to the risks of cardiovascular disease. I've featured it at my heart health blog - A Hearty Life.
Heart-to-Heart #3: FatBlogger
All the best to your mom for a speedy recovery.
Posted by: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD | April 09, 2006 at 11:38