MDNews - Central New York

Championing Women's Heart Health E V ERY 80 SECONDS, cardiovascular disease claims a woman's life in the United States, according to the American Heart Association, but under-recognition by women and healthcare providers of this threat remains a significant barrier to saving lives. Despite cardiovascular disease's distinction as the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., a 2015 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found women age 55 and younger were 11 percent less likely than men to be told they were at risk for heart disease prior to a heart attack, even when their risk was com- parable to or greater than men's. Women in the study were 16 percent less likely than men to report having a discussion with their healthcare provider about risk reduction. Certain risk factors, such as diabetes and hypertension, increase women's risk for cardiovascular disease more than men's. Others, such as preeclampsia, gestational hyperten- sion and gestational diabetes, are unique to women, who tend to develop heart disease 10 years later than men due to menopause, according to the Federal Office on Women's Health. Women also have a well-documented propensity to experience different acute coronary symptoms than men. COMBATING GENDER BIA S Differences in risk factors and symptoms, however, do not fully explain why cardiovascular disease remains a disproportionately potent threat to women, says Riya Susan Chacko, MD, cardiologist at Crouse Medical Practice Cardiology, who has a special interest in women's heart health and serves on the American College of Cardiology's Women in Cardiology Section. "Sometimes, women are treated differently," Dr. Chacko says. "Gender bias still exists in health care, where the thinking may be that men develop heart disease, but it's not an issue for women. Another problem is that women tend to minimize their symptoms. They may say to their physician, 'I'm having chest pain, but it's probably nothing.' When women say that, physicians sometimes follow their lead." Dr. Chacko advises primary care physicians and other providers to investigate any symptoms women report, including pain that radiates to the jaw, back or arm, as well as perspiration and nausea —heart attack symptoms that women may be more likely than men to experience. Referral to a cardiologist is appropriate if a patient experiences any new or concerning symptoms, receives an abnormal elec- trocardiogram result, or has an intermediate or high risk for cardiovascular disease, based on lifestyle and familial risk factors. At Crouse Medical Practice Cardiology, women's heart health is a key area of focus. "Our practice is committed to women's heart health, just as Crouse Health is" Dr. Chacko says. "Inclusion, commit- ment, education and quality are the principles that guide our patient care philosophy." Learn why cardiac care is personally important to Dr. Chacko at carepassion.org/drchacko. n The same holds true for the cardiologists' collaboration with the outstanding team of nurses at Crouse Health's Diane and Bob Miron Cardiac Care Center, where the physicians provide a variety of inter- ventional and diagnostic services. Crouse Health Interim Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Cardiac Care Services Lynne Shopiro, RN, BSN, has been involved in hea r t ca re at Crouse Hea lth for more than 35 years. The physicians of Crouse Medical Practice Cardiology are integral to the hospital's success in building a well-regarded cardiac service line, Shopiro notes, in part because of the high standards they bring to the Miron Cardiac Care Center. "From the nurses' perspective, the cardiologists' ability to teach and the high expectations they have for quality care make the Miron Cardiac Care Center team better," Shopiro says. "The nurses care for patients in conjunction with the cardiologists, and the collaboration between the two teams is phenomenal." AWARD-WINNING, PIONEERING INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY Complementing Crouse Medical Practice Cardiology's ethos of collaboration is a commitment to providing comprehensive cardiac care, starting with interventional cardiology. The Miron Cardiac Care Center features the latest technology, including three cardiac catheterization suites, among them the only one in the region for pediatric patients (see "Seamless Care for the Youngest Cardiac Patients"). Drs. Battaglia and Ulahannan, as well as interventional cardiologist Anil George, MD, FACC, perform a variety of procedures, including coronary artery angioplasty and stenting, and peripheral vascular interventions. The interventional cardiologists are especially adept at treating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). "Once emergency medical services personnel in the field or physicians in Crouse Health's Pomeroy Emergency Services Department diagnose STEMI on an electrocardiogram, they acti- vate the cardiac catheterization team, which typically consists of an interventional cardiologist and three nurses," Dr. Ulahannan says. "All Crouse Medical Practice Cardiology members live Lynne Shopiro, RN, BSN, Interim Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Cardiac Care Services at Crouse Health M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A L N E W Y O R K ■ 2 019 0 7

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