Women and heart issues

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I have never thought much or worried about my heart health really. I am 63 years old and now within the last year have started thinking more about my heart.

I have no know heart disease in my family that I know of

I live a healthy lifestyle, exercise and watch my diet closely

I have no heart issues or problems at this time (known about)

A few months ago I had a scan of my neck arteries for plaque and a scan of my abdomen to rule out aortic aneurysm. Those were both fine. I paid for these test myself.

I was thinking about having the scan done of the heart to check for calcium blockage which is the only way to know if you have any. I would rather be proactive and not wait for symptoms of a heart attack to find out that I have blockages....why not check BEFORE you get to that point of poor heart health? It seems like those who have a heart attack, never had their plaque looked at prior to see if they had any?? Maybe heart attacks could be less if this scan was done on everyone either with family history or of a certain age?

I think now that I am older... and hearing so much on heart issues for women...hearing stories of women having strokes and heart attacks etc in the news all the time...I am thinking more and more about this issue. They talk so much about women and heart disease, yet, when I go for a physical nothing is done test wise to rule out any underlying issues that may not be noticeable on the outside.. but are going on inside.

One internist during a physical checkup was telling me all the symptoms of heart attack and what to look for and to dial 911 if I had anything like these symptoms..... I was thinking why not look for heart issues before you are this desperate?

I live my life proactive in most everything I do. Why does medicine tend to wait to find a problem rather than find the issue whatever it may be and be on top of it rather than say wait for an elephant stepping on your chest and a 911 call at 2 AM in the morning? Why not make these heart tests standard for women of a certain age. especially for women with a family history of heart issues?

Even Susan Lucci in her70's with the best medical care I am sure and HAD FAMILY HISTORY of heart disease never had her heart scanned for plaque until AFTER she had the heart attack symptoms and the scan showed all her blocked arteries. She was so surprised.... but that had been going on for years prior and a simple test could have saved her from almost dying.

Is my wanting to be proactive in my heart health and health in general being overly obsessed.....or perhaps a new way of looking at heart disease by staying on top of any changes through scans.

I think part of the reason less is done proactively is that insurance does not want to pay for tests unless you already have symptoms of heart disease. I do not mind paying out of pocket as it is worth it to me for peace of mind.

SunnysMom · ‎03-12-2010

I just had the heart scan...great result. Well spent $

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@SunnysMom wrote:
I just had the heart scan...great result. Well spent $

@SunnysMom did you do it for yourself or did you doctor want it done for a certain reason? I guess what I am asking is was it done without any heart concerns presently and just as proactive?

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I'm 63 and have been living with scleroderma since 2002. The disease is affecting my mitral valve and that means I'm basically a ticking time bomb...I can drop dead any second from a mitral valve failure. I get echocardiograms yearly and they show my valve is getting thick and is becoming stiff and not flexible. Surgery is not an option so I just pray a lot. It used to bother me that I could die any day now but over time I have made peace with God and asked please let me live as long as I could and I made a promise to take care of the heart that was given to me. So far I'm doing fine and I'm happy. Live for today and don't worry about tomorrow.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaidenI'm much older than you - and I agree with your decision to become aware of your heart health.

I don't favor a particular method of doing that, but I've known seemingly forever that heart/circulation problems are deadlier to us women than breast cancer now is, yet even in emergency rooms, we are often not thought of as candidates for heart attacks until it's too late.

I'm old enoiugh that I check lots of body health issues regularly. Just be careful of your purveyors. I just heard a sad story of a neighbor who went for a free hearing test - and came away with a perforated eardrum curtesy of a poorly trained technician!

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
I'm 63 and have been living with scleroderma since 2002. The disease is affecting my mitral valve and that means I'm basically a ticking time bomb...I can drop dead any second from a mitral valve failure. I get echocardiograms yearly and they show my valve is getting thick and is becoming stiff and not flexible. Surgery is not an option so I just pray a lot. It used to bother me that I could die any day now but over time I have made peace with God and asked please let me live as long as I could and I made a promise to take care of the heart that was given to me. So far I'm doing fine and I'm happy. Live for today and don't worry about tomorrow.

@SilleeMee

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Thank you so much for your kind words @SeaMaiden

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
Thank you so much for your kind words @SeaMaiden

@SilleeMee I mean it. You touch my heart.

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

@SilleeMee You are an example of how we can live our lives with peace and acceptance. Your grace and calm voice speaks strength and shows us how tenuous and precious each day can be. Thank you for your willingness to share your beautiful insights and heart.