Heart Month

 This Heart Month, learn about your heart health from the experts. We’re offering a free library of podcasts and videos featuring Upstate cardiologists to help you learn all you can about keeping your heart healthy.

Ask the Expert:
Dr. Barbara Moran-Faile  |  Upstate Cardiology

Are women’s hearts really that different from men’s hearts?

They certainly can be. For years, almost all heart research was performed on men, assuming that 'a heart is a heart.' Only in the last decade has specific research on women’s hearts begun in earnest. We do know that women are more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke than men are. Part of the reason is that women tend to put off seeing the doctor because they ignore their symptoms or attribute them to something else, like indigestion. Another reason is that the symptoms of a woman’s heart attack can be very different than the symptoms a man experiences.

What are common heart attack symptoms for women?

As opposed to men, many women never experience chest pain. Instead, a woman may feel discomfort in her jaw, back or neck rather than chest. Women also are likely to experience shortness or breath, nausea or vomiting during a heart attack. Since the symptoms are more vague, women tend to delay seeking treatment.

What is particularly surprising about women and heart disease?

One thing that is surprising is that the risk of dying of heart disease is actually increasing in women age 35-44. Those who are especially at risk are those who smoke, have diabetes, high blood pressure, are obese, have a sedentary lifestyle, and/or a family history of heart disease. Young women who are on birth control are at an increased risk of heart disease. Young women who are on birth control and smoke are at an even higher risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots in the lungs and legs.

Ask the Expert
Dr. Craig McCotter  |  Upstate Cardiology

What is an arrhythmia?

During a normal heart beat, an electrical impulse begins in an area of the heart called the sinoatrial node. From there, it passes through the two upper chambers of the heart called the atria, then into the AV node and ventricles. This electrical path causes the heart to beat in a coordinated way. Arrhythmia occurs when this delicate electrical system in the heart goes into disarray and causes either a very fast heart beat or an irregular heart beat.

I’ve heard a lot about "AFib." What is that?

AFib is short for Atrial Fibrillation, which is a type of arrhythmia. In atrial fibrillation, the atria are stimulated to contract very quickly and differently from the normal pattern. The electrical impulses are then sent to the ventricles in an irregular pattern, making them beat abnormally, leading to an irregular (and usually fast) pulse.

Can arrhythmia be treated?

Yes. Many types of arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation, can be treated with a procedure called cardiac ablation. First, an electrophysiology study is performed, which shows the exact location of any problem areas in the electrical system of the heart. Then, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel (usually in the groin area) and threaded through the blood vessels into the heart. When the catheter is in place, small electrodes are inserted that use electrical energy to destroy the cells that are causing the arrhythmia.

Ask the Expert
Dr. Christopher Smith  |  Upstate Cardiology

What are the signs of a heart attack?

The combination of symptoms differs from person to person, but can include discomfort or pressure in the chest, pain in the jaw, left arm or back, shortness of breath, and sweatiness.

What happens during a heart attack?

Everyone has some fatty buildup called plaque in their arteries. During a heart attack, this fatty build up blocks the artery, which causes the wall of the artery to break open. This causes a blood clot to form, which stops the blood flow through the heart, causing a heart attack.

Is there any way to minimize the amount of damage to the heart during a heart attack?

In a heart attack in which an artery is abruptly and completely blocked, time is of the essence. The faster the artery can be opened, the less damage to the heart will occur. At St. Francis, our goal is to have the patient in the Cath Lab in 60 minutes or less from the time he or she enters the ER in order to protect as much heart muscle as possible. Besides care in the hospital, you should know the signs of a heart attack and always come to the hospital if you suspect you’re having a heart attack. Even if you end up not having a heart problem, it is always better to come and get checked out.

Experts in Heart Care

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