Friday, February 04, 2011
Winston-Salem, N.C.- Heart disease is responsible for far more deaths in women than breast cancer. In fact, nearly one-third of all women will die from heart disease, while only 1 of every 35 women will lose her life to breast cancer. That's why today Forsyth Medical Center will open the Forsyth Medical Center (FMC) Women's Heart Center, which will focus on the prevention, early diagnosis, research, treatment and public education of women's heart disease.
"More than 8,000 women in North Carolina die each year from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for women in our state, " says David Bohle, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with the FMC Women's Heart Cetner. 'However, too few women believe that heart disease is their greatest health threat. That common misconception, coupled with a lack of understanding about the risk factors of heart disease and gender-specific differences in heart attack symptoms, puts women at a higher risk for death or disability from heart disease. That's why the educational awareness we will provide at the FMC Women's Heart Center is so important."
Led by physicians, nurses and support staff who specialize in cardiac medicine, the FMC Women's Heart Center offers Triad women an opportunity to better understand their cardiac risk factors and how best to address them. Women, in consultation with cardiac specialists, will also develop an individual wellness program tailored to specific condition.
The process begins with an in-depth online health survey, which asks the patient to evaluate a number of health and lifestyle criteria, including nutrition, physical activity, tobacco usage, ability to cope with stress and family health history. At a subsequent office visit, the patient discusses this information with a cardiac counselor to identify their own personal strengths and opportunities for improvement. The counselor also performs a number of non-invasive or minimally invasive screening tests, including a blood pressure check, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) blood test, glucose blood test, weight/body mass index screening and ankle brachial index to check for perpheral arterial disease (PAD)
The in-office screening and consultation take about an hour, and at the end of the appointment, the patient works with the counselor to identify three personal health goals in the coming months. Additionally, if specific health issues are identified during the screening-such as a previously undiagnoses high blood pressure or a suspected blockage in the veins of the leg-the patient may be referred to a cardiologist for additional follow-up.
Patients also will be connected with long-term care resources in the community to receive information about classes and programs that can help address their cardiac risk factors.
"During the last few years, we have identified the need for prevention programs and education that are developed specifically for women at risk of heart disease," Dr. Bohle says. "The FMC Women's Heart Center brings together all of the medical center's resources to address the leading cause of death in women"
