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HEART HEALTH
GOING REDCENTRAL GEORGIA IS
No, all the red’s not because football season is finally here. Navicent Health is
sporting the color to spread the word about heart disease among women.
THROUGH THE GO RED FOR TOOLS FOR HEART HAPPINESS IS IT A HEART ATTACK?
Women campaign, we’re hoping to Heart attack symptoms are often different
save women’s lives. Heart disease To help local women live heart- in women than men. This can make women
causes one in three deaths among healthy lives, Go Red for Women wonder whether anything is really wrong. One
women each year. In Georgia and Central Georgia is using education of the biggest differences is that women can
the Southeast, deaths related to and awareness to fight heart disease have a heart attack without experiencing any
heart disease are particularly high. and related conditions, such as heart chest pressure. Instead, their symptoms are
That needs to change. attack and stroke. Navicent Health more subtle—pressure in the upper back,
is working harder than ever to reach dizziness and fainting, or shortness of breath,
NEWS FLASH: women and help them prevent for example.
MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT heart disease.
Other signs of a heart attack in women include:
Due to so many physical differences, “Approximately 80 percent of »» Indigestion—Do you have a burning sensation
women and men don’t always have the cardiac events can be prevented
same health experiences. This is true with education and certain lifestyle in your upper abdomen?
even when it comes to heart disease changes,” Dr. Saunders notes. »» Extreme fatigue—Are you far more tired than
and heart attack signs. While chest
pain and chest tightness are common So what can women do? you should be from little physical activity?
signs of the disease for men, women 1. Commit to an active lifestyle. »» Nausea or vomiting—Do you feel sick without
may experience headaches, neck and 2. Stop smoking.
backaches, upset stomach and 3. C hoose heart-healthy, nutritious an identifiable cause?
nausea instead. »» Upset stomach—Are you suffering from unusual
meal options.
For Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, 4. G et frequent blood pressure and feelings of stomachache?
FACHE, President and CEO of
Navicent Health and inaugural cholesterol screenings. IF THESE SYMPTOMS SET ON QUICKLY, THEY
Chairperson of Go Red for Women “Women are the heart of the COULD BE SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK.
Central Georgia, these differences family, the CEOs of the household,” IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 FOR HELP.
are particularly significant. Her Dr. Saunders says. “This Go Red for
younger sister, Belle Medina, died Women campaign is intended to FALL 2015 | navicenthealth.org 11
of heart disease at the age of 49, bolster the heart health of the women
leaving behind three young children. in our region, and in turn, lead them
Although Belle’s fatal heart attack to direct their families toward heart-
seemed sudden, she had experienced healthy lifestyles. Through awareness,
symptoms for days. education and lifestyle changes, we
are confident that we can overcome
“My beloved sister Belle experienced this horrible disease.”
symptoms for more than five days, but
as they were neither crippling nor TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET
alarming, she continued going to work INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE AGAINST
every day until the day of her heart WOMEN’S HEART DISEASE, PLEASE
attack,” Dr. Saunders says. “Today, we VISIT WWW.GOREDFORWOMEN.ORG
know that chest pain and tightness in OR CALL 1-800-257-6941, EXT. 6164.
the chest are not typical symptoms for
women having heart attacks.The clinical
manifestations that Belle experienced
are more typical for women.”
