‘Love Your Heart’ event aimed at raising awareness

The signs of heart disease in women can go without notice as the result of a busy lifestyle, but this Friday, those life-changing symptoms will be brought to light at the inaugural Women’s Love Your Heart Luncheon. Terrebonne General Medical Center and Cardiovascular Institute of the South are teaming up to host the event at 11 a.m. at TGMC’s Medical Atrium auditorium. 

Rhonda Alfred, director of marketing at TGMC, said the luncheon will make women’s heart health a priority since many of them are not aware that heart disease is the number one killer among women. 

“Less than half the residents we surveyed could identify symptoms of a heart attack,” Alfred said. “But we want everyone to be able to identify the symptoms of a heart attack.”

Anne Kolwe Boudreaux, marketing director at CIS, said the symptoms of a heart attack or heart disease in women are different from the classic symptoms people are familiar with, and many of them get dismissed for that reason. 

Some of the atypical symptoms are pain in their back, neck or jaw.  There is also the possibility of stomach pains, nausea, light-headedness and general fatigue.

“These symptoms are often perceived as mild,” Boudreaux said. “Maybe they feel like they’re getting sick or something but don’t associate it with symptoms of a heart attack or heart disease.” 

She said the best thing to improve awareness is for women to know their family history and information such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index. 

“Know those numbers, monitor them and when something’s off, that can be an indicator that something more is going on,” Boudreaux said. 

It is also recommended for women to quit smoking, as their heart rate returns to a normal level within 20 minutes of quitting, she added. 

Before the luncheon, there will be screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, and body fat, along with CPR demos for women to learn more about their risk factors. 

Those who attend will also have the opportunity to hear testimony about the importance of heart health from CIS patient, Kim Waldrup, who suffered a heart attack and was not fully aware of her symptoms.  

At noon, TGMC’s Chef Jackie Marsh will demonstrate how to prepare a heart-healthy lunch and discuss healthy food substitutions when preparing meals at home, such as using less salt and substituting apple sauce instead of sugar or sweetener. 

Boudreaux said the lack of awareness is not always intentional, but can result from women often putting their families and everyone else before themselves. 

“As women we take on a maternal, nurturing role and I think (women) can go into overdrive with that,” Boudreaux said.

As of September 2013, for patients 40 years and older, CIS treatments were dominated by 52 percent female and 48 percent male, according to CIS statistics.   

With more female than male patients, Boudreaux said it remains important for women to take care of themselves and be aware of risk factors associated with heart disease.  

 “We hope that everyone leaves more informed about the ways they can prevent heart disease,” she said. 

Space is limited, but tickets, if available, will be sold at the door for $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 985-872-5980.