GO RED BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE The true stories of women who survived heart disease. FEBRUARY 2010 WILL YOU WAIT TOO LONG TO GO RED? Most of us know what we should be doing to take care of our precious hearts, yet we can’t seem to do the simple things required like eating right, exercising, and seeing the doctor regularly. We search for every possible excuse not to put our health first. Either we are too tired or short on time. So what will it take to make us change our lifestyles for the better? Contact www.GoRedForWomen.org for information on taking care of yourself. We are glad that these women were able to Go Red before it was too late. WILL YOU JOIN THEM? EDITED BY ANITA OLDHAM AND TIFFANY WHITE WRITTEN BY TIFFANY WHITE PHOTOS BY NELSON AUGE DESIGNED BY KATHY BOLGER STYLED BY WENDY ANGUIANO MAKEUP BY ISIDRO VALENCIA Shannon Spradlin, 48 Risk Factors: None Symptoms: Nausea, pain in neck and shoulders Diagnostics: EKG – Normal, blood test indicated cardiac enzymes were elevated Solution: Stents in artery GO RED BEFORE YOU HAVE TO CALL AN AMBULANCE Though Shannon Spradlin didn’t think she needed to take an ambulance ride, she had an emergency that couldn’t wait. While shopping with her family, Shannon began to feel nauseated and by the time she returned home, she began vomiting. After resting for a couple of hours, Shannon continued her normal activities with no problems. “I worked out in two classes of jazzercise as usual and then went to a party,” she says. The same evening, Shannon says, she felt pain in her neck and shoulders, but disregarded it. “I thought I had worked out too hard.” The pain persisted throughout the day and by 4 a.m. the next morning, she couldn’t sleep. An EKG showed nothing, but a blood test indicated that her cardiac enzymes were grossly elevated. Doctors later inserted two drug-eluting stents into her artery. Shannon never suspected heart disease as the culprit, because she didn’t believe she fit the profile. “I was a 42-year-old, size 4 non-smoker who attended jazzercise regularly. My blood pressure was low and my cholesterol scores were good. I never dreamed I could have a heart attack,” says Shannon. Since the heart attack, Shannon has focused on making health the first priority, but in a different way. “I try to laugh more and stress less over things I can’t control. I’ve had to turn down my type A personality a notch or two.”   GO RED BY KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS “My symptoms were not what I would have expected. There was no chest pain or pressure. There was no difficulty breathing.” GO RED BEFORE YOU END UP IN THE HOSPITAL Sheron Samuels, 52 Risks: Family history Symptoms: Heavy perspiration, heaviness in chest, fatigue days before Solution: Open heart surgery While lying in a hospital bed recuperating from open heart surgery, Sheron Samuels prayed for her life to be spared. She had been washing her car when she began to sweat profusely and feel heaviness in her chest. Though she had a strong family history of heart disease, Sheron — who was 46 at the time — didn’t think she’d be at risk because of her age. She walked daily, didn’t smoke, and scheduled routine checkups with her doctor regularly.  But the warning signs she explains, were always there. “Before the heart attack, I used to walk up six flights of stairs without any trouble, but the last time I did it, I started panting,” she says.  Even simple tasks would leave her feeling slightly fatigued. “Every day, I would come home from work, cook dinner and then lie down, but I didn’t look at this as a symptom. Sheron says she didn’t realize how much better she could feel until after the surgery. “I have more energy.” She maintains a healthier lifestyle by monitoring her eating habits and parking her car at a distance to fit exercise into her schedule. GO RED BY KNOWING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY “My father died of congestive heart failure at age 56 and most of his relatives died from heart disease.” One of Sheron’s brothers also died of congestive heart failure. GO RED BEFORE YOU FALL DOWN Lori Martin, 41 Risks: Family history, high blood pressure Symptoms: High-blood pressure Solution: Medication, exercise, food choices Lori Martin wouldn’t take her high blood pressure medicine despite being diagnosed with it at the age of 36. “I didn’t believe my doctor. I thought I was under stress,” she says. But when Lori’s father, who also has high blood pressure, had heart bypass surgery, she vowed to not let heart disease slow her down. She has never been diagnosed with the condition — and she wants to keep it that way. “My father’s heart attack was a real wake-up call for me. I knew I still wanted to live to see my son graduate from high school and see grandkids someday.”  After her father’s heart attack, Lori made a 180-degree turn with her lifestyle and has remained consistent. The standard meal of fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans, has turned into a healthy plate of salads and baked foods. Lori takes her blood pressure pills daily and doesn’t eat past 7 p.m. “I exercise three times a week…I feel much better and I’ve lost 10 pounds.” GO RED BY NOT UNDERESTIMATING THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK REGARDLESS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES “This could happen to anyone. It’s not about your age, it’s about your health.” GO RED SO YOU ARE NOT SURPRISED Willie Stigler, 78 Symptoms: None Diagnostics: Attentive doctor, echocardiogram indicated past heart attack Solution: Surgery and stent in artery Willie Stigler only went to the doctor’s office for minor health issues or for gynecological exams, but a first-time visit to a new doctor in May 2001 became her saving grace: otherwise she would not have known about her precarious heart condition. She had a leaky aortic valve and two partially blocked arteries which would require open heart surgery. “An echocardiogram indicated that in my past, I had experienced a light heart attack…I was surprised,” says Willie. Between church activities, work, family, and square dancing five times a week, she had no reason to think her health would be in jeopardy. The day after her diagnosis, Willie had surgery and began Cardiac Rehab without any complications. But in October 2008, her doctor placed a stent in one of the same arteries that had been blocked previously, because she had been experiencing chest and arm pain. Having heart disease — and the support of her husband — has improved the quality of her life in many ways. “He has taught me we are not promised another day.” She adds, “He tells me to slow down my thoughts and pace.” Also, Willie is doing everything possible to protect her daughters from heart disease. “Two of my daughters have stopped smoking. They are all now aware that heart disease is a silent killer of women…I urge them to exercise, eat smart, and stay in tune with their bodies.”   GO RED BY SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS WITH YOUR DOCTOR REGULARLY “I didn’t ever get physicals, because I thought I was healthy.” GO RED BY EXERCISING BY CHOICE Janice Glass, 56 Risk Factors: Family history Symptoms: Pain in left arm, jaw, and upper back Saved Her Life: Knowledge of symptoms, good instincts Solution: Angioplasty/stent procedure Janice Glass chooses to exercise at least three times a week to help keep her heart strong. She has chosen to make a long-term investment in her life because she knows one wrong decision can permanently change your life. It almost happened three years ago when she began to have pain in her left arm, jaw, and upper back. A cardiovascular technician at the Jewish Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Janice knew the pain was a symptom of a more serious condition. When she went to the emergency room, the doctors gave her an EKG, but the results of the test were normal. “The ER doctor said that since everything looked normal, the cardiologist would probably want to send me home and then do a stress test within a couple of days, but I had a gut feeling that I should stay,” she says. The cardiologist, says Janice, agreed. At Janice’s request, doctors gave her a cardiac catherization test which revealed two blocked arteries. “I was totally shocked and devastated…doing these procedures on patients, it’s hard to be on the other side. I didn’t have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.” Janice did have some family history — “my mother who was diagnosed with heart disease in her early 50s.” After the diagnosis, Janice went into the hospital to undergo an angioplasty/stent procedure. Now the 56-year-old grandmother of four says she tries to spend as much time with her family as possible. And she realizes good instincts saved her life. “I have also been blessed with the Lord by my side. His strength has been my strength.” GO RED BY KNOWING YOUR BODY “If you feel like something isn’t right with your body, see your family physician or cardiologist first. Let him or her know about your symptoms and make sure you are satisfied when you leave the office.” GO RED SO YOU CAN ENJOY THAT CUP OF COFFEE Janet Pate, 56 Risks: Family history Symptoms: Fatigue Solution: DaVinci Robot Repair procedure versus heart bypass surgery Janet Pate can experience the simple pleasures of sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee — something she may not have been able to do had she not paid attention to her health. Last year, regular bouts of fatigue made it difficult for her to walk short distances without becoming winded. “I’d have a hard time walking from my car to the elevator,” she says. Since Janet worked closely with patients as a medical assistant, she thought the fatigue might have been a symptom of the flu, but says she didn’t fully dismiss heart disease as a possibility. While at work, she asked one of the nurse practitioners to listen to her chest. Follow-up tests revealed she had total mitral valve prolapse and would need to have surgery. But instead of going through the traditional heart bypass surgery, Janet went to Cincinnati to get the DaVinci Robot Repair procedure, because she and her husband believed it would be a safer alternative. Janet says she has better stamina and tries to eat the right foods; however, she admits that she needs to become more devoted to exercise. And while rearranging certain aspects of her lifestyle might be a work in progress, Janet isn’t taking life for granted. “It has been a wakeup call. I feel very fortunate to be healthy today.” GO RED BY KNOWING WHEN TO GET HELP “Do not put off seeing a doctor when you feel bad…I have worked in the medical field for 30 years but have been bad about not seeking medical help as soon as I should.” GO RED BEFORE YOU GO UNDER Jennifer Lundberg, 19 Risks: None Symptoms: Migraines, seizures, dizziness Tests: Blood pressure and pulse check showed heart rate high Solution: Medication to control heart rate Asking the right questions at the right time kept Jennifer Lundberg from going six feet under. The 19-year-old had begun her freshman year at the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering, but not without complications. Migraines, seizures, shaking, and minor issues with cognitive function were interfering with Jennifer’s concentration which made school more difficult to handle. After visiting with several doctors — and a couple of neurologists — she was able to control the migraines, but the health problems didn’t end. She had difficulty walking up the stairs and would often feel dizzy and lightheaded in class. “I didn’t really think about my heart. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, but I never really ever felt too great,” says Jennifer.  She had been tested for every illness possible, but none of the doctors could come up with a definitive diagnosis. Then a stress treadmill test indicated her heart rate was extremely high. “When I did the stress treadmill test, and walked at a regular pace my heart rate jumped up to 200.” Her cardiologist told her she didn’t need to be concerned about her heart rate. But Jennifer switched cardiologists after learning that incorrect signaling between her brain and heart had caused her heart to function abnormally. Although she didn’t need surgery, Jennifer’s new cardiologist — who specialized in signaling — prescribed medication which slowed her heart rate. Taking control of her health has led to a happier and better life. “I could have waited 20 years until there was a real significant problem…my high heart rate could have destroyed my heart and I could have been in line for a heart transplant.” GO RED BY BEING PERSISTENT “The important thing to do is to ask your doctor specific questions. Sometimes they get it wrong and not every treatment and medication is appropriate for each person. You have to find what is right for you.” Go Red Executive Leadership Team members not pictured • Claire Alagia • SiDonna Cox • Laura Douglas • Lisa Steiner • Marita Willis