Pat Piecuch
Because of family history of cardiovascular disease on both sides of my family, I was diligent to follow a low fat diet, exercised, practiced tai chi, and meditation. Nevertheless, I fell prey because I didn’t connect my symptoms to heart attack. In fact, I didn’t believe it was happening. I kept telling myself, “I don’t have time for this!”
Since my event I “Go Red” because my goal is to educate women as to what a heart attack feels like. Among the most common symptoms are pain, pressure or a sense of fullness under the breastbone that lasts two minutes or more. Men often say the pain feels like “having an elephant on my chest”; women typically experience a milder chest pain. The sensation may radiate to the shoulders, neck, jaw, back or arms. (Or it may not.) Women generally experience the radiating pain throughout the neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, back, or abdomen; in general, their symptoms are more subtle, therefore, easy to ignore. Men tend to have sharp pain in their arms and shoulders. Dizziness, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath may also occur. Ladies, when in doubt, have your symptoms checked out because you never know.
Debra North
My name is Debra North, and I Go Red because I’m proud to be a 34-year heart disease survivor!
I was born with congenital heart disease. My heart was very weak, and after my birth, the doctors only gave me three days to live. I’ve lived three decades so far! Although my heart improved, my doctor also discovered mitral valve prolapse. Unlike the many others who can live their entire lives without needing surgery, I would need to have an eventual valve replacement or repair—but not until I was much older. My cardiologist thought I’d be about 60 when my valve would start to fail; instead, my valve began to fail when I was 30. I needed surgery immediately.
It’s been almost four years since my very successful mitral valve repair! I had minimally invasive surgery which meant a faster recovery. My surgery was in the summer, which meant I could get back to teaching in the fall. Though I’ve had a few small “bumps” in the road on my way to a full recovery, I can say that I feel wonderful! It’s great to get my life back, get back to work teaching high school English, and be a survivor!
Sheri Rous
My name is Sheri Rous and I GO RED so I will be around to see my children grow up. I am 4’11”, 105 lbs, conduct a “stroller workout class” three times a week, I eat a healthy low fat diet with no red meat, take vitamins and herbal supplements, visit the doctor regularly and do all the things necessary for a healthy lifestyle. I would never have imagined that I would have needed open-heart surgery for an artery bypass, nor that I would “crash” and flat-line later that night following my surgery. My crash called for a second surgery, a “code blue emergency” that was so urgent the doctor opened my chest and began the surgery in the non-sterile environment of the CICU. The surgeon hand massaged my heart to keep me alive before they could take me downstairs to the OR. Once in the OR, I crashed a second time. The events that transpired around my ordeal are truly fascinating and provide some wonderful tales of modern medicine and skilled doctors, as well as providing an educational platform for understanding the symptoms of heart disease, and the reality that it can happen to anyone, even from a fit, 41 year old woman. Today, I feel strong and healthy but am always aware of how precious life is. I continue to eat healthy, exercise and make regular visits to the doctor.
AHMC - Anaheim Regional Heart Matters Program
CVD is still the #1 killer of American women. Women are still less likely than men to be correctly identified as having heart attacks. Our Heart Matters department strives to screen and educate women as well as give them the tools and the power to take control of their health. GO RED is our bold statement in support of all the women who have been touched by heart disease & stroke.
