It’s STUNNING that this is an issue in 2021. But ladies, you’re STILL getting the short end of the stick when it comes to heart disease, heart attack, and comprehensive cardiac care.
This isn’t some minor problem either.
It could mean getting the WRONG treatment. Even worse, it could mean getting NO TREATMENT at an urgent time when you desperately need it.
Yes, this form of invisible discrimination literally has life-or-death ramifications. And it could be your own life, or the life of someone you dearly love, that’s on the line.
So today, let me share something that many doctors don’t even know. Because learning what’s going on behind the scenes today… and finding out when and how to get help… could save your life tomorrow.
The HIDDEN heart risk in women
There are entire generations of doctors – many still in practice today – who believe heart problems are a “man’s disease.” And that heart attacks rarely happen to women. Seriously.
And as bizarre as it sounds, it’s not the only issue. That’s how these doctors were educated. And the entire system was BUILT around this totally incorrect notion.
The result? Well, as a recent article in MedPageToday notes, to this very day, women “are frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated” when it comes to heart problems.
This, the authors point out, is why one in five cardiovascular events in women comes as a total surprise to everyone in the room, doctors and patients alike. Because these ladies had zero KNOWN risk factors.
But the truth, of course, is that those heart problems don’t happen out of the blue. Instead, the risk factors are missed, ignored, or totally misunderstood.
The team behind the new op-ed blames lack of research. And they’re calling for more studies on heart risk in women to ID those missing factors so that doctors can be alerted.
I’m all for that. But that doesn’t do a thing to protect YOU when it matters most. And that’s RIGHT HERE and RIGHT NOW.
Because you could go to an ER tonight with what should be obvious signs of a heart attack. Yet be sent right back home without some of the most basic tests.
But you don’t have to wait around for those much-needed studies. You can act to protect yourself starting today.
Reduce heart attack risk and recognize the signs
Begin with the basics. A study a few years back found that a daily multivitamin could reduce heart risk in women by 20 percent.
Here’s the most important finding of that study: The biggest benefit was in women with NO KNOWN RISK FACTORS for heart problems. In other words, precisely the women at the center of that new report.
Next, learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart problem and get help ASAP. You MIGHT feel something big and obvious, like the classic chest pain. But you might not.
Women are more likely than men to have a heart attack with no chest pain at all. So it’s critical to keep watch for the other warning signs that women experience more often. They include…
- sudden pain in the back or neck
- weakness
- arm or shoulder pain
- sudden (and often severe) shortness of breath
And third, when you need help, be PUSHY and NEVER apologize for it, especially if you’re in the emergency room. And make sure your loved ones know to speak up for you should you have trouble doing it yourself.
One study a few years back found women are 50 percent more likely to be misdiagnosed in the ER after a heart attack than men. So be blunt. Be insistent. Be DEMANDING if you have to.
Because the right action at that moment won’t just get you the attention, you deserve. It could save your life.
For more on women and heart risk… as well as how and why heart problems are often missed… read this free report.
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