Women: Get With the Heart Rehab Program
Reader Comments
Heart Disease and Menopause
Women are at greater risk of heart disesae once their body begins menopause. Women may begin menopause during middle age years (45-60yrs old) and are at a greater risk than men for developing heart disease due to the hormonal changes and decrease is "cardio-protective" estrogen. Women who have heart disease are not necessarily older wome who do not have the mentality of "exercise and fitness," rather - younger women are developing heart disease and many cases are being misdiagnosised. These wome are not the typical cardiac patients (ie over weight, high BP, diabetics, etc), these women are young and may have no risk factors. When heart disease is seen in a young women and she is referred (hopefully) to cardiac rehab, she may walk into a rehab setting filled with aging, overweight men. Women need cardiac rehab geared towards women. A woman's body is operates vastly different than a mans and that needs to be taken into consideration.
Cardinal Signs of a Heart Attack in a Woman:
1. Pain along the jaw line, may complain that their teeth ache.
2. Pain between the scapula (shoulder blades).
3. May not be short of breath during an attack.
4. May not break out into a sweat during an attack.
5. Tearing sensation in the chest (left side near heart).
6. Pain behind sternum.
7. Occassional pain down left arm.
Signs of a heart attack are very differnt in women.
If you are a women and have concerns - please get it checked out before it is too late. (Not everything is anxiety and fatigue)
Thanks, SP
Exercise in "old" age.
How can I get paper copies of these excellent articles - and others
to come - for many near relatives who need them? I am 95 plus 6
months and I need them. My exercises are strenuous, but not as
extensive as described here. I have a two-year-old broken left
hip and femur and a sturdy cane.
Response as to why women don't do Rehab - I do
I am a 68 year old female and am currently in Cardiac Rehab after suffering a serious 100% blockage. Fortunately, I have some medicare coverage and can participate. However, when my 36 visit coverage is finished, I will no longer be able to afford Rehab. On a low retirement, $300./per week is impossible. I will try to continue with a treadmill.
Cardiac rehab not utilizied
When my husband was discharged from the hospital following a heart attack last year, his physician prescribed cardiac rehab. Unfortunately, our insurance would not pay a penny on the $400/week expense, and with bills already piling up from ambulances, hospitals and caregivers, we couldn't afford for him to go to rehab. Perhaps the medical community needs to address this...
