Heartbeat: Celebrity's Heart Attack is Wake Up Call for All Women
By: Jancey Sheats, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 4, 2012
When actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell announced earlier this month she'd had a heart attack, she admitted she didn't recognize the symptoms right away.
It ended up being a close call for her and a wake up call for all women.
One morning five years ago, Nancy Kiscka was overcome with exhaustion, clammy sweat, nausea and unusual chest pain.
"I remember laying there thinking it's a mistake. I think they made a mistake. This can't be me. I'm not the person who has a heart attack," Nancy says.
About 200,000 American women die from heart attacks every year, and another 42-million women live with heart disease, unaware of the threat they face.
"The common myth is that heart disease and heart attacks occur only in men. And the truth is in every year since 1984, more American women than men have died of heart disease," says Cardiologist Dr. Marc Gillinov.
Just like Rosie, Nancy suffered a complete blockage of one of the main arteries in her heart. That type of heart attack is commonly called the "Widow Maker."
"Even that name implies this is a man's disease, a widow-maker heart attack," Dr. Gillinov says.
But it isn't, and knowing men's and women's symptoms differ can save a woman's life.
Crushing chest pain is a well-known symptom. So is sweating, anxiety, and irregular heart beat.
But for women, it can be pain in the jaw or upper belly. Atypical heart attack symptoms include nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, fatigue and dizziness.
Because symptoms go unrecognized, women pay a heavy price.
42-percent die within the first year after an attack, compared with 24-percent of men.
Nancy was smart. She took aspirin right away, got to the hospital immediately and had a stent put in the blocked artery. And now, four years later, she feels great, is back to running and has added a daily aspirin to her vitamin regime.
"I feel stronger and better than ever. I'm very conscious of taking care of myself now," she says.
And that's exactly what she wants other women to know as well.
It ended up being a close call for her and a wake up call for all women.
One morning five years ago, Nancy Kiscka was overcome with exhaustion, clammy sweat, nausea and unusual chest pain.
"I remember laying there thinking it's a mistake. I think they made a mistake. This can't be me. I'm not the person who has a heart attack," Nancy says.
About 200,000 American women die from heart attacks every year, and another 42-million women live with heart disease, unaware of the threat they face.
"The common myth is that heart disease and heart attacks occur only in men. And the truth is in every year since 1984, more American women than men have died of heart disease," says Cardiologist Dr. Marc Gillinov.
Just like Rosie, Nancy suffered a complete blockage of one of the main arteries in her heart. That type of heart attack is commonly called the "Widow Maker."
"Even that name implies this is a man's disease, a widow-maker heart attack," Dr. Gillinov says.
But it isn't, and knowing men's and women's symptoms differ can save a woman's life.
Crushing chest pain is a well-known symptom. So is sweating, anxiety, and irregular heart beat.
But for women, it can be pain in the jaw or upper belly. Atypical heart attack symptoms include nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, fatigue and dizziness.
Because symptoms go unrecognized, women pay a heavy price.
42-percent die within the first year after an attack, compared with 24-percent of men.
Nancy was smart. She took aspirin right away, got to the hospital immediately and had a stent put in the blocked artery. And now, four years later, she feels great, is back to running and has added a daily aspirin to her vitamin regime.
"I feel stronger and better than ever. I'm very conscious of taking care of myself now," she says.
And that's exactly what she wants other women to know as well.
