Heart Diseases and Women

The results from the largest-ever international study on heart diseases reveal that women are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than men, the World Health Organization announced on September 26, 2003. According to the study, of the 16.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease each year, 8.6 million are women. The study was conducted by teams from 38 populations in 21 countries from the mid-1980's to the mid-1990's, researching heart disease, stroke and risk factors. The report was released in conjunction with World Heart Day, September 28.

The World Health Organization also launched the result of the largest-ever worldwide collaboration to study heart disease, the Monitoring cardiovascular disease (MONICA) Monograph and Multimedia Source book. The theme "Women, heart disease and stroke" aims to draw urgent attention to the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not just a health problem concerning the men. Out of the total 16.5 million CVD deaths annually, 8.6 million are of women, while heart attacks and strokes are responsible for twice as many deaths in women as all cancers combined.

"Although most women fear cancer, particularly breast cancer, they do not make the same efforts to safeguard themselves from heart disease, which is eminently preventable," said Dr. Catherine Le Galescamus, WHO Assistant Director-General, Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health. "We must strive to make women make aware that to keep their heart healthy, the need to eat smarty kick smoking and move for health."

MONICA was important in measuring levels and trends over time in these diseases and their risk factors in different populations, in precipitating and monitoring prevention policies in different countries, and in demonstrating the importance of the new acute and long-term treatments that were increasingly introduced.

All information gathered under the MONICA project has now been brought together in one full color publication, designed to appeal both professional and lay audiences. It also includes all the MONICA documents, methods and results in two CD-ROMs. Published by WHO, the monograph has been supported by European Commission, by medical charities, and by industry.

"MONICA is a model for others, of how collaboration across political and national boundaries can tackle problems shared by the whole of humankind, as well as providing results and ideas that will fascinate everyone interested in heart disease, stroke and risk factors," said Mr. Hugh Tungstall-Pedoe, Editor and Chief author of the monograph.

Unfortunately, women's chest pains and other symptoms have often been ignored or misdiagnosed and waved off as psychological symptoms of depression or anxiety, says Dr, Grace Wamer, M.D., attending cardiologist and co-director of the non invasive laboratory of cardiac testing at Arizona Heart Institute, in Phoenix. The fact is that the typical textbook symptom-a heavy pressure on the chest- may be typical for men not for women. Women's symptoms tend to be more subtle. "If a woman doesn't recognize these symptoms as a sign of heart problem, she may not go to the doctor or emergency room". But for maximum effect, the clot-bursting drugs should be administered within the first 4 to 6 hours. If she does not received clot-bursting
drugs, the heart attack is greater and her full recovery less likely.