Get Well Wednesday: How To Have A (Healthy) Heart

 

Annabelle S. Volgman, M.D., FACC, FAHA is Professor of Medicine and Senior Attending Physician at Rush Medical College and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.  She is the Medical Director of the Rush Heart Center for Women. She is the recipient of the  Madeleine and James McMullan-Carl E. Eybel, MD Chair of Excellence in Clinical Cardiology.

Dr. Volgman received her undergraduate degree with honors from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City

She has been interviewed by numerous newspapers, magazines, radio and television news shows about various health issues. She was featured in the O Magazine as Ms. Winfrey’s cardiologist in 2002 and her profile was in Chicago Crain’s Business in 2003 and 2014.

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Heart disease remains a leading cause of death for U.S. African-American and Hispanic women.   And now, a new AHA report shows that women are also ignoring heart disease risks, and need to better recognize their own sex-specific symptoms of the illness.   Compounded together, minority women need to be even more hyper-vigilant in recognizing their risk of heart disease and taking steps to stay healthy, including the availability of the latest tests to identify and rule out coronary artery disease.

Cardiologist Annabelle S. Volgman, MD, of Rush University Medical Center, and one of the committee members behind the report, is showcasing a 3-pronged approach regarding minority women and their heart health.  She’d very much like to discuss the material with you at your convenience during February Heart Health Month.

As highlighted in its new report,the American Heart Association (AHA) pointed out that most women ignore heart disease risks, and need to better recognize their own sex-specific symptoms of the illness.   With all of the attention heart disease has received over the last decade, women are still at high risk and cardiovascular disease is still the no. 1 cause of death here in the U.S.

According to the American Heart Association cardiovascular disease exacts a disproportionate toll on many racial and ethnic groups. The organization also says racial and ethnic minority populations confront more barriers to CVD diagnosis and care, receive lower quality treatment, and experience worse health outcomes than their white counterparts.

Despite years of attention on the national and local levels, the problem continues to persist across the country:According to the CDC Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, heart disease is still the leading cause of death for U.S. African-American women.   Among Hispanic women, heart disease and cancer cause roughly the same number of deaths each year–Cardiovascular disease (CVD) age-adjusted death rates are an alarming 33 percent higher for blacks than for the overall population in the U.S.

AHA also reports that Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican American women still have a higher rate of obesity than non-Hispanic white women, putting them at significantly greater risk factor for CVD and diabetes.

Experts concur this is epidemic that needs to be addressed. With all of this in mind Dr. Volgman wants to deliver a message paramount to cardiovascular health to this undeserved population:

(1) Get educated – Know the signs and symptoms of heart disease, especially coronary artery disease, its most common forms.

(2) Get heart healthy – Follow a healthy diet, exercise and know your genetic risk factors for heart disease.

(3) Get tested – Recent technology has given us an array of tests not only to identify but also to rule out coronary artery disease. It’s important to talk with your doctor about which one is right for you.

 

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