My heart story is one that I didn’t see coming. And neither did my doctor. The story of so many women who suffer and even die from heart disease is what also plagued me. Not thinking that it can happen to me.
I went from healthy to sick in a heartbeat. I ate right (most of the time), had an active lifestyle, was young and had never been seriously ill before. But a few short years ago, I found myself in a coma with heart failure.
READ: These Heart Disease Risk Factors Are More Potent In Women Than Men
I had signs and symptoms of the disease for weeks, including fatigue, shortness of breath and palpitations. I knew that something was wrong but simply couldn’t figure it out. I complained to my doctor about my symptoms and about a tingling sensation in my arm and hand that seemed like it wouldn’t go away. He simply ignored it.
When my complaining got to be too much I asked him to send me for x-rays and to a specialist. But, as I was pregnant there was nothing they could do for me at the time since I was unable to get an x-ray. So I was sent home to deal with it.
READ: Blood Test May Rule Out Pregnancy Complications, Finds Study
I was dealing with the harsh realities of heart disease. Although it is the number one killer of women people often think of it as a man’s disease. As a previously healthy woman I nor my doctor was not looking for the signs and symptoms of heart disease and didn’t think that I fit into the category for the disease.
You know those categories that we sometimes classify as “them”…being older, suffering from poor health or poor habits, being male. It is true that older women die faster from heart disease, but all women should be concerned about the silent killer. American women of all ages are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. It is the number one killer of women.
READ: Diabetes & Pregnancy: How To Lower Your Risks
In my case, I developed peripartum cardiomyopathy during pregnancy, which essentially is congestive heart failure that causes a weakened heart to not pump sufficiently for the needs of the body.
This condition was not caused by my eating, lifestyle or exercise habits. In fact, doctors don’t know why some women get it and others do not. By the grace of God, I survived my ordeal and continue to be on the path to recovery.
Understand that disease such as heart disease does not discriminate. Please understand what some of the signs and symptoms of heart disease are. Getting regular check-ups and finding the right medical caregivers that will partner with you on your health is key.
Angela Burgin Logan is a blogger, wife, mother, advocate and Co-Executive Producer of the film “Breathe” (now on Netlfix), which chronicles the story of her near fatal experience with the pregnancy-related disease, preeclampsia. Read more about her life and work here.
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