Editor's Note
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The heart of the matter
Local medical professionals – and philanthropists – are fighting cardiovascular disease, among other maladies faced by women.
By Tina BorgattaPublished: September 01, 2010
My call to action came in late 2004. That’s when I first heard the statistic: Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women. (Cancer comes in at No. 2; lung disease follows at No. 3.)
The reason: The symptoms are often overlooked because they differ from those experienced by men. Fatigue, back pain and shortness of breath could mean a lot of things. And cardiovascular disease is about the deadliest one of them.
While I’m one of the lucky ones – my arteries are clear of plaque and my cholesterol is in check – I have witnessed the effects of cardiovascular disease.
My grandmother suffered a series of strokes later in life (cardiovascular disease often strikes post-menopausal women), leaving her unable to move or speak. My father survived two heart attacks by the time he was 60 but died from a third one at 76. And my husband was hit with four heart attacks between the ages of 38 and 42. (Unbelievable, right?)
OK, so enough of the depressing stuff. There is a bright side to all of this: research.
As you’ll read about in our Women’s Health Update feature, we have brilliant medical professionals right here in Orange County who are working to uncover groundbreaking treatments for – and understand the causes of – cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease and other deadly health risks.
Take UC Irvine’s Dr. Jin Kyung Kim. She’s researching the role estrogen plays in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Then there’s Dr. Robert Wascher from Kaiser Permanente, who is using a revolutionary test for breast cancer diagnosis.
And Dr. Richard Fischel from Hoag Memorial Hospital is researching the link between lung cancer certain genes.
We also have folks like Sue Parks, our Power Profile dynamo, who champions a healthful lifestyle through both her work and her actions. Parks is a professional who believes in giving back to the community.
People like Parks – plus groups such as the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society – are key to keeping critical research and treatment projects going.
Want to help?
Go HERE to find out more about these programs and plenty of others that are aimed at helping women through every type of challenge – from disease to domestic violence.
So what did I do about that call to action I mentioned earlier?
I became a volunteer for the American Heart Association and joined the Go Red For Women movement.
What’s your call to action? tborgatta@churmmedia.com
Get headlines in your hand at OCMETRO.com/apps
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The reason: The symptoms are often overlooked because they differ from those experienced by men. Fatigue, back pain and shortness of breath could mean a lot of things. And cardiovascular disease is about the deadliest one of them. While I’m one of the lucky ones – my arteries are clear of plaque and my cholesterol is in check – I have witnessed the effects of cardiovascular disease. My grandmother suffered a series of strokes later in life (cardiovascular disease often strikes post-menopausal women), leaving her unable to move or speak. My father survived two heart attacks by the time he was 60 but died from a third one at 76. And my husband was hit with four heart attacks between the ages of 38 and 42. (Unbelievable, right?) OK, so enough of the depressing stuff. There is a bright side to all of this: research. As you’ll read about in our Women’s Health Update feature, we have brilliant medical professionals right here in Orange County who are working to uncover groundbreaking treatments for – and understand the causes of – cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease and other deadly health risks. Take UC Irvine’s Dr. Jin Kyung Kim. She’s researching the role estrogen plays in preventing cardiovascular disease. Then there’s Dr. Robert Wascher from Kaiser Permanente, who is using a revolutionary test for breast cancer diagnosis. And Dr. Richard Fischel from Hoag Memorial Hospital is researching the link between lung cancer certain genes. We also have folks like Sue Parks, our Power Profile dynamo, who champions a healthful lifestyle through both her work and her actions. Parks is a professional who believes in giving back to the community. People like Parks – plus groups such as the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society – are key to keeping critical research and treatment projects going. Want to help? Go HERE to find out more about these programs and plenty of others that are aimed at helping women through every type of challenge – from disease to domestic violence. So what did I do about that call to action I mentioned earlier? I became a volunteer for the American Heart Association and joined the Go Red For Women movement. What’s your call to action? tborgatta@churmmedia.com Get headlines in your hand at OCMETRO.com/apps |
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