Tests & Heart Disease - Women vs. Men - Heart Disorders Message Board

zosolizard · 02-16-2006, 08:17 AM

I visit a therapist about once a month - mainly to help deal with the fears I have due to the many PAC's, PVC's and chest pains I experience each day.

She happens to be married to a cardiologist, and told me this yesterday:

Recent studies show that heart disease/heart problems for WOMEN can often begin in the smaller vessels of the heart & in that case, cannot usually be detected by the usual tests (echo, etc).

I am condensing what she said, and please don't take this as "law"...... I am just repeating the basics of what I heard.

Has anyone heard of any recent studies, or have any knowledge about this?

Thanks very much!

enie · 02-16-2006, 11:18 AM

Yes.
Been there - done that........
I speak as one that endured seven year of undiagnosed disabling heart pain nightmare and four years of heart procedures trying to treat the damage to my heart, (read my heart posts if you like).
Not only do some women's heart problems begin in the smaller vessels of the heart that cannot usually be detected by the usual tests.
But also, some women have a tendency to have wide spread blockages that are not detected by the usual tests,
And some women are even having heart attacks that don't always show up on these tests.
Bits and pieces of these articles were in the news in the past few months........
(Shhh, not too loud.)

zosolizard · 02-16-2006, 12:16 PM

Hi & thanks for your response. I did go & read many of your posts.

Geez - when does it stop? Do I seek out more & more doctors ?? I'm at my wits end. And I've only been at it for 8 months.

Do I find a new cardiologist & start from square one ? Sigh....

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.