As a graduate student in public health, I never imagined that one day the system I wanted would suddenly fail. On May 31, 2022, I went to the emergency room because I thought I had a problem with my blood sugar levels. The doctors told me to rush to the emergency room at Mission Hospital because they were worried about my heart. I gave the emergency room staff exactly the instructions from the ED and gave them the paperwork.

I then sat in the waiting room for over nine hours waiting to see the doctor. I underwent regular tests such as an electrocardiogram and blood tests. When I finally got to my room, I was given medication to slow down my heart rate and quickly sent out. The doctors were rude and didn’t have time to answer my questions and concerns about why my heart rate was so high. After a 9 hour wait and extensive tests, I was only seen for 20 minutes by an arrogant doctor.

It wasn’t until I managed to get an appointment with a cardiologist that I realized the health threat I was facing. I was told by my cardiologist that the electrocardiogram done at the hospital indicated a heart attack, and that with a heart rate as high as mine, I was at risk for multiple health problems. Nearly two years later, I am still suffering from these heart problems and have no clear answers. Unfortunately, my story is not unique. An excellent report in Land of the Sky discusses how many women face long wait times at mission hospitals, which is not uncommon for women around the world.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. In 2020, 314,186 women died due to heart disease, representing approximately one in five female deaths. After learning this information, I had to stop and ask myself one simple question. “Why?” Why are women left in waiting rooms or dismissed by doctors when we need help, especially when it comes to heart health? Public Health with a specialization in epidemiology As a graduate student, critically analyzing disparities is part of my training.

There are several reasons why cardiovascular diseases and events are often underdiagnosed in women. Common human error, provider bias, lack of education about gender-specific signs and symptoms, and lack of participation of women in developing diagnostic and treatment methods all contribute to the underdiagnosis of cardiovascular disease. This is the cause. Cardiovascular problems manifest differently in women. Typically, when someone describes the symptoms of a heart attack, they report chest pain and sweating. However, these symptoms are more common in men. Women may also experience these symptoms, but they are more likely to report neck and jaw pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and heartburn, all of which occur when women are resting or sleeping. is likely to occur. These often overlap with other health problems and are often overlooked by patients and healthcare providers.

Gender bias by medical staff may also be contributing to this problem. Looking back on my situation, these issues have been bothering me for years. However, when I discussed my concerns, they were often dismissed as psychological, meaning I was “too emotional” or had anxiety. More generally, many doctors (most of them male) have told me that hormones and menstruation can be the cause. Despite having a family history of heart disease, my concerns were ignored, putting me at risk for far too long.

Furthermore, women (and other minority groups) are underrepresented in cardiovascular disease research. Clinical trials test new treatments for a variety of problems. Many steps are taken to ensure that the results are safe and effective during implementation. However, female subjects are often underrepresented in these trials. Previous cardiovascular studies have involved 862,652 participants, but only 38% were women. Not recognizing the differences in cardiovascular disease symptoms by gender and not addressing this research gap contributes to the misdiagnosis of cardiovascular disease in women.

Women’s cardiovascular health is ignored and ignored. Our bodies are powerful and specially designed to tell us when something is wrong. However, there are threats to women’s health. We are dying from cardiovascular problems. These problems are preventable, but we need to educate others about the risks and advocate for ourselves and systemic change. We know her HCA needs to change, but so do other health systems.

more: OPINION: What would cardiac surgeon Charlie Keller say about Mission Hospital today?

more: OPINION: HCA’s imminent jeopardy incident could be a disaster for WNC healthcare.

Ruth Scruggs is an epidemiology student at UNC Charlotte from Asheville. She is passionate about researching and understanding infectious diseases and other public health topics. She is dedicated to understanding patterns, causes and effects of health and disease within populations, particularly in rural areas. With her strong background in epidemiological methods and data analysis, she strives to make meaningful contributions to improving health outcomes in her community.

This article originally appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Heart disease often goes undiagnosed in American women