khaleej times Wednesday, January 27, 2010
HeartCare KHALEEJ TIMES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Female heart is vulnerable to cardiovascular disease Many women lack the basic awareness that heart disease is their biggest killer although breast cancer may be seen as the bigger threat
www.reddoorproductions.net
Screen Advertising Agents Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall
By Dr. Rajesh Raipancholia
C
ARDIOVASCULAR disease remains the leading cause of death in men and women worldwide. It is still considered a disease of men and there has been little recognition of its importance in women. Women with heart disease continue to be under-diagnosed, undertreated and underresearched. Even though cardiovascular disease accounts for 43 per cent of all female deaths few women view it as a significant health risk. Many women lack the basic awareness that heart disease is their biggest killer with their main fear being breast cancer. In fact, breast cancer was the seventh leading cause of death for females (4.5 per cent). Women with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) have worse outcomes than men. Of heart attack patients treated with either clot buster medications or primary angioplasty and stenting, it is noticed that women have higher in-hospital complications than men. Women under 50 years old have been shown to experience twice the rate of in-hospital death compared to their male counterparts. Furthermore, women are more likely to die within one year following a heart attack compared to men. Serious complications of heart attack, such as shock, heart failure and recurrence of heart attack are more frequent in women. What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease in women? When women have angina, they are more likely than men to experience “atypical” symptoms. Many women report a hot or burning sensation, or even tenderness to touch, in the back, shoulders, arms or jaw; often they have no chest discomfort at all. Heart attacks also tend to behave differently in women. Frequently they experience nausea, vomiting, cold sweat, indigestion, dizziness, pain or pressure in the back or high chest, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath or extreme fatigue — but no chest pain.
Unfortunately, these symptoms are easy to attribute to something other than the heart. Women also are more likely than men to have “silent” heart attacks — that is, heart attacks without any acute symptoms, and that are diagnosed only at a later time when subsequent cardiac symptoms occur. Why do women with heart disease have worse outcomes? The exact reasons for the discrepancy in outcome remain unclear, but could be explained by the higher risk profile frequently seen in women. At the time a woman presents with coronary artery disease she is older and has more risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. Until they reach menopause, women are protected from heart disease by oestrogen. But women, who have an early onset of menopause, or those who have had their ovaries removed, suffer a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Compared to men, women are less likely to seek medical help, but more likely to present late in the disease process and to have “atypical symptoms”. Late presentation delays effective treatment. Women have smaller coronary arteries making them more difficult to treat both with angioplasty and surgically, and this contributes significantly to worse outcomes. Does taking hormonal pills increase risk for heart disease? Taking hormonal pills is generally safe for young, healthy women if they do not smoke. But these can pose heart disease risks for some women, especially women older than 35; women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol; and women who smoke. Dr. Rajesh Raipancholia, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, HeartFirst Medical Centre, Dubai Healthcare City
RAK HOSPITAL
ETA Star Healthcare brings world-class cardio care to RAK With the newly established Catheterisation Lab, the hospital is now fully equipped to provide complete solution for any heart-related issues
Raza Siddiqui Executive Director
RAK Hospital is the only hospital in the world that has been awarded the accreditation from both Joint Commission International (JCI) and by the Swiss Leading Hospital (SLH Accreditation) which is based on European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM standards)
RAK HOSPITAL is a 65-bedded, stateof-the-art multi-specialty healthcare facility jointly set up by the ETA Star Healthcare and the Ras Al Khaimah Government and managed by Sonnenhof Swiss Health (SSH), a leading healthcare consulting corporation from Switzerland. RAK Hospital is the only hospital in the Northern Emirates to provide comprehensive cardiac care. The first Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) and Electro physiology (EP) facility was inaugurated by Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Raza Siddiqui, executive director, ETA Star Healthcare LLC, says: “This is a new milestone on the medical front for the Northern Emirates. With the newly established Catheterisation Lab, RAK Hospital is now fully equipped to provide complete solution for any heart-related issues. With the latest state-of-the-art technology and a highly specialised cardiac team at RAK Hospital, the region has now become more medically efficient and independent. Our cardiac team at the hospital is headed by Dr. Rajeev Lochan, chief cardiologist and Dr. Margit Oremek, medical director, who are both highly respected for their experience in this field.” Equipped with the advanced cardiac angiography system from Siemens Healthcare, 64-channel electro physiology monitoring with RF ablator and four channel Cardiac Stimulators by GE Healthcare, the Cath Lab at RAK Hospital has ensured that it has the best of medical equipment at its disposal to help better serve the patients. RAK Hospital also pioneers in EP
study for the benefit of the residents in Northern Emirates. EP study provides information that is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias (problems that lead to abnormal heart rhythms). Although it is more invasive than an echocardiogram (ECHO), and involves provoking arrhythmias, the test produces data that makes it possible to diagnose the source of arrhythmia symptoms. EP studies help in evaluating the effectiveness of certain medications that control the arrhythmia. It also facilitates the prediction of the risk of a future cardiac event, such as sudden cardiac death, and helps access the need for an implantable device (a pacemaker or ICD) or treatment procedure (catheter ablation). RAK Hospital is equipped with 64 slice cardiac CT scanner capable of performing 64 slices per rotation at less than 0.4 - 0.7 mm resolution. Such high resolution allows visualisation of the entire coronary tree with extremely high accuracy and detail. Patients are treated in RAK hospital’s most advanced cardiac care unit, (CCU), which offers highly specialised care until their condition stabilises. As per Dr. Oremek, “The equivalent of an intensive care unit (ICU), which is for critically ill patients with other types of conditions, a CCU contains extensive heart monitoring and testing equipment as well as a staff trained and certified in heart conditions and procedures.” Considering the influx of cardiovascular patients in the UAE, it has become highly essential for sufficient facilities to be available to combat the threat from these diseases. It has been estimated that 41 per cent of all deaths in UAE are caused by cardiovascular or heart related diseases. With the availability of such facilities at RAK Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah has become more self-reliant to treat cardiac patients. RAK Hospital is the only hospital in the world that has been awarded the accreditation from both Joint Commission International (JCI) and by the Swiss Leading Hospital (SLH Accreditation) which is based on European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM standards).
THE CHALLENGES AND THE ANSWERS More research that involves women Much of the research in the last 20 years on heart disease has either excluded women entirely or included only limited numbers of women. The recruitment of women into studies still remains deficient. The need for studies that include more women remains paramount.
Patient, doctor, nurse and industry awareness The UK contribution to the international campaigns on heart disease in women, is the “Her at Heart” to raise awareness as well as the undertaking of new research to study women and heart disease. The European Society of Cardiology’s the “Women at Heart” campaign is mainly aimed at health professionals, highlighting the under-recognition of women with IHD; and the American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women” Campaign, has encouraged hundreds of thousand of women to undergo a heart check. All of these campaigns are valuable tools in what remains a difficult task of introducing the concept of heart disease as the major threat to women into our modern societies. There is no doubt that better education and awareness are needed to address the issues surrounding heart disease in women. We have crossed the starting line in what seems to be a challenging marathon ahead.