Cholesterol Drugs for Women
Is
your doctor doing everything right for your heart? Some cholesterol
lowering drugs can help, but doctors aren't prescribing them.
Heart
disease is the biggest killer of both men and women. So why
if a doctor has medication that can prevent the risk, wouldn't
he or she prescribe it?
"It's the $1 million question, but clearly, we're not sure,"
Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist, said.
What
Dr. Miller is sure of is that doctors are not prescribing
the drugs for people at risk for heart disease, particularly
women who have battled heart problems for many years.
In
1994, 42 percent of men and 38 percent of women were taking
the cholesterol drugs. By 1997, the number of men increased
to 54 percent, while the number of women dropped to 35 percent.
"We think there is gender bias because women have the same
amount of heart disease as men did in the study," Dr. Miller
said.
Now he is calling for doctors to step up their efforts, but
that doesn't leave you off the hook. Ask your doctor if the
drugs may be right for you. It may be the most important question
you ever ask.
Heart
Attack: Warning signs and tips on prevention
(From the American
Academy of Family Physicians)
What
is a heart attack?
A
heart attack (also called myocardial infarction)
is when part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies because
it isn't receiving oxygen. Oxygen is carried to the heart
by the arteries (blood vessels). Most heart attacks are caused
by a blockage in these arteries.
Usually
the blockage is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup
of fatty deposits (called plaque) inside the artery. This
buildup is like the gunk that builds up in a drainpipe and
slows the flow of water. Heart attacks can also be caused
by a blood clot that gets stuck in a narrow part of an artery
to the heart. Clots are more likely to form where atherosclerosis
has made an artery more narrow.
How
do I know if I'm having a heart attack?
The
pain of a heart attack can feel like bad heartburn. You may
also be having a heart attack if you:
Don't
ignore the pain or discomfort. If you think you are having
heart problems or a heart attack, get help immediately. The
sooner you get treatment, the greater the chance that the
doctors can prevent further damage to the heart muscle.
Risk
factors for a heart attack
How
can I avoid having a heart attack?
Talk
to your family doctor about your specific risk factors (see
above) for a heart attack and how to reduce your risk.
Your
doctor may tell you to do the following:
