Women are often undertreated for cardiovascular disease compared to men. This has resulted in a significantly greater risk of rehospitalization for women ages 18 to 55 after suffering a heart attack compared to their male counterparts.
Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York, is committed to addressing the disparity and double standard that exists nationwide in the treatment of women with heart disease. Discover more about the extensive measures taken by our cardiovascular team to ensure that women at risk for heart disease receive personalized care and proactive follow-up, helping to protect their health and prevent further cardiac incidents.
Women and Heart Disease
Traditionally, heart attacks, an event that occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, are commonly associated with women over the age of 60. However, recently, there have been an increasing number of cases of women in their 40s and 50s suffering coronary events. This is likely due to the improper management of underlying risk factors in their 20s and 30s.
While women and men generally have the same level of risk of heart disease and heart attacks, some risk factors may affect women more, such as:
Smoking
Smoking is universally not recommended and can lead to a host of serious health concerns for both men and women. Smoking is especially dangerous for women, especially young women and pre-menopausal women. Evidence suggests that women who smoke are 25% more likely to develop heart disease than men who smoke.
Birth Control
Hormonal birth control that contains estrogen may affect heart health in women. Methods such as pills, patches, implants, and injections with estrogen make the blood sticker, increasing the risk of clots. This leads to a greater risk of heart attacks.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is when the force of a person’s blood pushing against the walls of their blood vessels is too high, which can lead to heart attacks. This condition is more likely in women over the age of 65 compared to men of the same age.
Additional risk factors for heart disease in women include:
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Stress
- Family history of heart disease
- Unhealthy diet
- Excessive alcohol use
- Age (risk increases as women get older)
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
The Threat of Another Cardiac Event for Women
Experiencing a coronary artery event is the number one risk factor for having another one. When a coronary artery event occurs, it results in scar tissue that weakens the heart, thus increasing the risk of a second attack.
Patients who suffer heart attacks should undergo aggressive management and control of such factors as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, that’s not always the case for women. Extensive research has been conducted as to why this is.
For reasons that are still somewhat unclear, female heart attack patients are more likely than men to be discharged from the hospital without being placed on statins to control their cholesterol or insulin therapies to address their diabetes. They are also less likely to receive instructions on the necessary diet and exercise regimen for their health. Additionally, studies show that they are less likely to be referred for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation after a cardiac event.
Steps Taken by Richmond University Medical Center
Richmond University Medical Center takes a proactive approach to ensure women receive the necessary care after suffering a cardiac event. Built-in systems within the discharge process automatically refer cardiac patients — regardless of gender — for follow-up care at Richmond University Medical Center’s state-of-the-art Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center. Additional checks performed by the cardiovascular care team ensure patients are prescribed the correct medication for their condition.
The days after experiencing a cardiac event are among the most critical for patients. However, very often, patients are overwhelmed and therefore do not retain all the information that they have been given while in the hospital. Richmond University Medical Center addresses this by providing a post-cardiac follow-up within one week of discharge to every patient. During this session, patients will be reminded of their care plan and what precautions and actions must be taken to return to optimal health.
Richmond University Medical Center acknowledges that not every patient has access to reliable transportation. We also understand patients may not have the luxury of putting other responsibilities on hold to attend a doctor’s appointment in person. To better accommodate our patients in these instances, Richmond University Medical Center offers telehealth services. Patients will still receive the same level of attention and care as they would if they were in person.
Find Universal Care in Staten Island
At Richmond University Medical Center, we encourage men and women to address their concerns over their heart health with our cardiovascular care team in Staten Island. Specializing in treating heart disease in women and men, we ensure that proper treatment and aftercare are given to every patient. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
