Director, Emergency Services, Bikur Cholim Hospital
Women's health is always a hot topic. While I will write on
women's health, it is not on diseases that afflict only
women. I found a very important article in the Lancet
(11 Oct. 03) that deals with the biggest killer of women
worldwide.
What are we are talking about? Heart disease and stroke. It
kills more than twice as many women as all cancers combined.
And they are more likely to die of heart disease than men.
Actually, most of these deaths are not in developed countries
because of lack of resources.
I will first focus on prevention. Women have to stop smoking
too, but as in our religious culture, many cultures worldwide
do not have high percentages of women smoking. Same goes for
drinking.
However, secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous, so we men
must help out. Eating well and losing weight, though, is key
— as well as exercise. If you didn't do these as a
girl, you won't do them as an adult.
Women who do have these diseases are more likely to be
misdiagnosed, be sicker and not get the right therapy. Often
the symptoms are in older ladies which are vague, and often
the EKG does not show the same signs as men since female
hearts are smaller and do not show difference in the EKG as
well. Doctors also are misinformed and recommend preventive
steps less to women then men when it comes to heart disease
and stroke.
The best thing for all of us is to advertise these facts and
make a serious combined effort to make the necessary
lifestyle changes. For the record: everyone — men and
women — should have their first EKG at age 35 and have
annual checkups every year after age forty. Be well. Write me
in care of the Yated.
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column. Avandia gives long-lasting protection without
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