Event educates women about heart disease

Valentine's Day is perfect for heart talk, but when the American Heart Association is involved, the discussion is less about chocolate and more about taking care of the heart beating in your chest.

A roomful of women dressed in red celebrated and learned about heart health Thursday morning as part of the American Heart Association's Breakfast in Red event. It was the first time the event, which was sponsored locally by the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis campus, has been held in Topeka.

Women's heart-health statistics — shared through a video, written materials and by Topeka's only female cardiologist, Swapna Mamidipally — were significant. 

One woman dies every minute from heart disease, said Mamidipally, the keynote speaker.

"Despite that, a recent study showed that only 54 percent of women recognized that heart disease is a No. 1 killer," she said. "There's a lot of gap that needs to be bridged."

Statistics included:

• Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, which is more than all cancers combined.

• Women take, on average, 37 minutes longer to seek treatment for heart attack symptoms than men.

• Women are less likely to receive CPR when they collapse.

• Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.

Mamidipally addressed the fact that symptoms women experience from heart disease may be different than what men experience. Women's symptoms may include nausea/vomiting; jaw, back or arm pain; cold sweat; and shortness of breath.

Prevention is key, and Mamidipally highlighted four primary things to do: Avoid tobacco; be physically active; make good nutritional choices; and control blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.

Radio host Danielle Norwood, who spoke at the event, said she was conscious of the importance of understanding heart disease after two close relatives were affected by it.

"As we talk about heart health, I am reminded about how special this day is for me," she said. "Today, Valentine’s Day, is the 11th anniversary of my grandmother Audrey Norwood’s death. Audrey was and is the first great love of my life."

Norwood said her grandmother and great-grandmother raised her from 3 months old, and each suffered from heart disease.

"It is in their honor and to increase my chances of leading a long and fulfilling life that I stand here today, committing to do the work that it takes to be successful in my health journey," Norwood said.