Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/959541
make things good for me," she says. "Even in the follow up appointments, he has been patient and kind, answering every question I had. His answers were in layman's terms and not in all that medical jargon. I appreciated that." Susan says she felt that she was in good hands with the Northwest Health nursing staff. "They were very attentive and sensitive to my every need," she says. "Always smiling and energetic." In hindsight, Susan says she should have known better. Her family – including her father, mother and brother – all had heart issues, mostly when they were in their late 40s and early 50s. Her father suffered two heart attacks – one before Susan was born and a second from which he died. Her brother suffered multiple heart complications and eventually underwent triple bypass surgery in 2016. Her mom had a stent. Since her own heart attack, she's been doing cardiac rehab two days per week with a group. She rides a stationary bicycle, walks on a treadmill and works with an arm wheel. Outside of that, she tries to walk regularly on her own. She has also changed her diet and that of her family, which includes sons Marcus, 12, and Noah, 9. She reads food labels for sodium content and has added more fresh vegetables. She's lost about 10 pounds and has noticed toning in the muscles in her arms. "You have to be more deliberate on eating and exercise. It matters a lot, and not just for rehab, but for the rest of your life," she says. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Some signs of a heart attack specifi c to women include: • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Susan knows she won't be in rehab forever and is making real lifestyle changes that will prevent further cardiac issues or incidents. She's grateful to the medical professionals that saved her life, and to her friend and colleague in Oklahoma for nudging her to go to the hospital. "I would have waited until the end of the day or collapsed in the offi ce," she says. Susan's advice for others: "Pay attention to the warning signs. The life you save could be your own." Keeping tabs on your heart health can help you identify potential problems early. Visit NorthwestHealth. com to learn about our cardiovascular services. "Men tend to experience more chest discomfort. This is not always the case for women. Women can have more shortness of breath or sweating or simply pain in the jaw or neck." Dr. Garrett Sanford SATURDAY, MARch 31, 2018 | ApRil - TAckling AlleRgieS nwADg.coM/YoUATYoURbeST | YoU AT YoUR beST | 5 Can't Get Pregnant? We'll get to the bottom of it. Hope Starts Here Giving You Power to Overcome: IVF, IUI, Fertility Surgery and Advanced Reproductive Technology Call for an appointment today 918.359.2229 (BABY) www.TulsaFertilityCenter.com 115 E 15th St Tulsa, OK