"American Heart Month" and "Go Red for Women" highlight heart disease risks in February

by

Lacey Alexander

• Published on February 6, 2023 • Comments

Tameka Roberson, a customer care representative in the Division of Cardiology, chats with Dr. Myrna Alexander, a cardiologist and professor of medicine, where both work in the University Pavilion cardiology clinic.
Jay Ferchaud

February is nationally recognized as American Heart Month, a time intended to raise awareness of heart health issues in adults. To raise awareness of the risk of heart disease in women, The American Heart Association also recognizes its "Go Red for Women" campaign this month.

Lacey Alexander

"American Heart Month" and "Go Red for Women" highlight heart disease risks in February

Tameka Roberson is a customer care representative at the University of Mississippi Medical Center who suffered a heart attack in 2019 shortly after giving birth to her daughter. She says she had no prior health concerns before her episode, and that her family had no history of heart issues to her knowledge.

"It took me by complete surprise... I was completely fine throughout the pregnancy," she said. "After I got home from the hospital [after giving birth], my head would hurt so bad... I would also have chest pains."

While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, it claims more women's lives than all forms of cancer combined according to the American Heart association. Dr. David Theodoro is the Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at St. Dominic's hospital in Jackson. He says symptoms of heart issues look different in women, and thus may be mistaken for mild sickness.

"The presenting signs and symptoms... certainly can be and often are different in women," he said. "[They] can easily mimic other issues."

Both Theodoro and Roberson urge women to see a doctor early if they believe they're experiencing symptoms of heart disease.