Encouraging women’s heart success
It happened a few years ago. But it feels as if it was yesterday. My husband collapsed as the result of a very mild heart attack. Thankfully it was conveniently on a banquette in a café, and not while he was walking—or worse, driving! It wasn’t the first time he had issues with his heart, mind you. But, as it turned out, he “only” needed the 4th and 5th of his now six coronary-opening stents, instead of a quadruple bypass.
That being said, what went wrong? And why did it happen to the husband of a person who prides herself on having written books to help others become Better Than Before, physically, emotionally and spiritually, hosts a lifestyle show on iHeartRadio Talk and is a renowned expert and influencer in the beauty, health and wellness fields (at least that’s what the announcer says before my show)?
Part of the answer is that the partial blockage was in his right coronary artery, not the dreaded left one, the “Widow Maker,” as they call it. In fact, he had been suffering from a variety of strange symptoms for a year prior to this—before we knew that right coronary artery disease has very different symptoms from the classic chest pressure and left arm pains. The good news was that the found blockage proved that his suspicions that I was slowly poisoning him were unfounded! What we learned, however, was that his symptoms were very similar to the typical ones when women have heart problems—and that is why we are often misdiagnosed.
The other lesson we all can take from his experience is that he took his situation to, er, heart. He has truly been making an extreme and concerted effort to take better care of himself, despite working every day as a corporate lawyer. (And you know how stubborn lawyers can be, corporate or otherwise.) That means exercising almost every day and being more aware of what he eats, the occasional late-night scoop of ice cream aside. (I see it, Bob! I marked the Haagen Dazs container to show if there’s any missing. Sorry!). But be that as it may, he’s lost over 30 pounds (and kept it off!). And his cardiologist said he was her poster child for responding well to a coronary event.
Since that time, though, I have also done a lot of research on the latest developments for coronary health. In doing so, I came across some interesting statistics, one of them being about heart failure. Here’s what else I learned: Heart failure impacts more than six million people nationwide, approximately half of which are women. To that end, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company recently launched Hear Your Heart, an empowering health initiative that provides unique, tailored resources and educational content to address notable healthcare gaps that may lead to worse health outcomes. The goal of the initiative is to help women with heart failure, especially Black and Latina women, optimize their heart failure care. The campaign is a call-to-action for women and others living with heart failure to prioritize their health and feel confident in asking for the resources they need to feel their best while managing the condition.
I asked Tannie Coward, a woman living with heart failure and a heart success advocate, and Dr. Alanna Morris, MD, MSc, FHFSA, FACC, FAHA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine for their thoughts.
JWM: Why did you get involved in the Hear Your Heart campaign?
Tannie: I joined Hear Your Heart to help empower other women with heart failure, particularly Black women, to be their own heart success advocates. I’m proud to say that I’ve been able to successfully manage heart failure by taking an active role in my care. My journey was not easy and while I know my doctors care about me, I knew I had to care about myself more and be engaged in my treatment plan. I want to make sure other women living with heart failure understand the importance of asking for what you need and putting your care first. It is possible to feel better living with heart failure.
Dr. Morris: Once I heard about Hear Your Heart, I was immediately interested in getting involved to tackle the gaps in care that can lead to worse health outcomes for Black and Latina women with heart failure. I’m passionate about addressing health inequities for people living with heart failure and my research includes the investigation of risk factors that may contribute to health disparities in cardiovascular disease, such as race and gender. As a Black female cardiologist, I understand care isn’t a “one-size fits all” approach, and I work with my patients to come up with a plan that works for them. The approach of this campaign is unique in that it speaks directly to Black and Latina women living with heart failure, empowering them to prioritize their care and feel confident asking for more from their care teams. This self-advocacy can have a positive impact on health outcomes.
JWM: Tannie, can you tell us a little more about your heart failure story?
Tannie: Over six years ago, after visiting an urgent care clinic with what I believed was an upper respiratory infection, I was hospitalized, underwent multiple tests and was diagnosed with heart failure. The diagnosis was a wake-up call for me and I retired from my job as a Court Service Officer soon after to put my health first. I also had to close my local wedding and event planning business due to the physical impact of my condition. Although I’ve had to make a lot of lifestyle changes, prioritizing my heart health has helped me successfully manage my heart failure.
JWM: Doctor, what advice do you give to women looking to take a more active role in their heart failure care?
Dr. Morris: I recommend women living with heart failure take an active role in their care by taking the time to prioritize their heart health. Making lifestyle changes, managing mental health, securing the right care team and ensuring associated conditions are managed properly are all aspects of heart failure care, and can be difficult to navigate, especially for women who tend to take the primary role in caring for their families. That’s why it is important for women and their care partners to work together to ensure they’re empowered to take an active role in their health. I encourage everyone to visit HFHearYourHeart.com to access resources that provide educational information and tips for managing heart failure and receiving optimal care.
JWM: Why is it important for women with heart failure to have the right support in terms of their care teams?
Tannie: Heart failure can be challenging to manage, and it is important for women with heart failure, especially Black and Latina women, to make sure they have the right support network in place to help them feel their best. We are taught to be strong, but there are places to get support. This support could come from family, friends, doctors or advocacy groups that bring together women in similar situations. It was so important for me to see other women who look like me successfully managing heart failure. I want to share my story so women know there are high days and low days, but it is okay to feel how you feel. This is your journey and the diagnosis is not the end of your story. It is a wake-up call to get us moving.
JWM: What are some reasons Black and Latina women face significant challenges in getting the best care for their heart failure?
Dr. Morris: Black and Latina women face many unique challenges and barriers that prevent optimal care. A variety of social determinants of health, including health literacy, socioeconomics, and environmental influences, can contribute to poor health outcomes. In terms of heart failure specifically, Black and Latina communities have higher rates of diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure which can lead to heart diseases, including heart failure. Additionally, women, particularly Black and Latina women, tend to take a primary caregiving role in their families, with many depending on them. This responsibility can be an emotional and physical burden on women, especially those trying to manage their own health, which can impact health outcomes. Education and access to the right resources can help close these gaps in care. Our hope is that Hear Your Heart will help provide this support for Black and Latina women living with heart failure, to help them get more from their care.
JWM: Thank you, ladies. At the end of the day, I am sure you will both agree that with the proper attention and treatment, it is possible to turn heart failure into heart success and live a better, longer life. Indeed, a life that is Better Than Before.
All Hear Your Heart campaign resources can be found on HFHearYourHeart.com, including:
• An inspiring video of Tannie sharing how her journey of consistency and self-advocacy helped her take control of her care
• An informative video of Dr. Alanna Morris answering key questions and offering tips to help women be proactive and engaged in their care to help improve outcomes
• A downloadable resource for women living with heart failure, care partners and healthcare professionals created to help ensure everyone does their part to help address these critical gaps in care
