Go Red For Women 2017 by The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch Magazines

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017

â&#x2013;

Matters of the Heart Go Red For Women

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section |Wednesday, February 1, 2017 ■

Keeping women’s health at heart Closing the gender gap in heart-disease awareness, health care

By Denise Blough Dispatch Media Group Cardiovascular disease has long been the No. 1 killer of both men and women older than 20, claiming more lives per year than all forms of cancer combined, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Yet decades of gender disparity in research, prevention and health care have left women at a disadvantage. Compared to men, women are less likely to recognize cardiovascular disease as their leading cause of death, know the symptoms of a heart attack or receive aggressive diagnosis and treatment, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease and stroke took the lives of nearly 400,000 U.S. women in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent available data. That’s one in three female deaths — breast cancer causes one in 31. But the association has made notable progress toward reversing these trends since launching its Go Red For Women initiative in 2004. Go Red For Women not only raises awareness about cardiovascular disease in the female population, but also in the medical community, by providing women-specific treatment guidelines, pushing for equal gender representation in clinical trials and much more, said Brianne Harman, communications director of the association’s central Ohio division. “Through outreach directly from Go Red For Women, roughly 293 fewer women die each day from heart disease and stroke,” Harman said, adding that since 1997, awareness among women

that cardiovascular disease is their No. 1 health threat has increased from 26 percent to 56 percent. Awareness among African-American and Hispanic women is significantly lower, according to the association. And since 80 percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable through education and lifestyle change, Harman said, awareness is key. “As an African-American female, it is a badge of honor to lead the charge toward heart disease research and preventive care,” said Kimberly Blackwell, CEO of PMM Agency and chair of the 2017 Go Red For Women in Columbus. One way Go Red raises awareness is through National Wear Red Day, which is held the first Friday in February, falling this year on Feb. 3. More than 2,000 U.S. landmarks will light up red, including Columbus City Hall. Columbus will host its 13th Go Red For Women luncheon on Feb. 23 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, as one of more than 180 Go Red luncheons across the country, Harman said. The top risk factors for cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking, according to the CDC. Other risks include poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol use. “Your family history is another thing that should definitely be discussed because that’s a big risk factor, and one that you can’t control,” she added. Another issue is that women are more likely than men to experience nontraditional heart-attack symptoms, such as jaw pain, neck/back pain, pain down one side of the arm, nausea and fatigue, among others. Misunderstanding these signals can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, Harman said.

The Go Red For Women Luncheon will be held Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Columbus. Get involved in Go Red For Women by registering at goredforwomen.org. Fewer women survive their first heart attack than men, according to the CDC. But advances are on the horizon. The association has set a goal of reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and strokes in Americans by 20 percent by the year 2020. The organization is on track to meeting the goal, with a decrease in deaths and disabilities every year since 2010, with the exception of 2016, Harman said. And after a push for more gender-specific research, the FDA is now required to report on how many clinical trial results are documented by gender. The association has given more than $3.3 billion to cardiovascular-disease research — second only to the U.S. government.

■

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Blackwell heads 2017 Go Red For Women Go Red chair hopes to raise awareness for ‘women of all hues’ By Denise Blough Dispatch Media Group In her early 20s, Columbus resident Kimberly Blackwell transitioned from living in a one-bedroom apartment to founding her own company, PMM Agency, which is now a multimillion marketing agency. Along with being a female CEO and serving on various boards, councils and committees, such as YWCA Columbus, Columbus Urban League and the National Women’s Business Council, Blackwell said she actively seeks out ways that she can make a difference in underserved and underprivileged communities.

“My mission right now is really about what it is that I can do to be impactful in the lives of others,” she said. As part of this endeavor, Blackwell will act as chair of the 2017 Go Red For Women in Columbus. She has been a strong financial supporter of Go Red for years, and when the opportunity arose to lead this year’s campaign, Blackwell gladly accepted the responsibility, she said. “In all the different hats that I wear, I am particularly sensitive around women’s issues,” Blackwell said. “And to have this opportunity to focus on heart disease, which has a higher disparity among black females, is a great honor.” The death rate from coronary heart disease is consistently higher for African-American women than white women, according to the American Heart Association.

Image by Yogesh Chaudhary

Kimberly Blackwell, 2017 Go Red For Women Columbus chairperson.

Only 36 percent of African-American women know that cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of death — compared to a 65 percent awareness rate in white women — according to a national survey conducted in 2013 by the association. For Hispanic women, awareness was 34 percent. But it’s not just about statistics for Blackwell, who has personally seen friends, relatives and coworkers battle with heart disease and stroke, she said. “This is definitely a mission close to home, and I’ll be doing my part as best I can to enlist others to raise awareness,” Blackwell said. Another reality that she hopes to stress as this year’s Go Red chair is the importance of women being vigilant about their health. “I’m really hoping that the 2017 Go Red movement gets women to understand why it’s important to know their numbers and learn their family history, and to take that one step further by discussing those factors with their health-care providers,” Blackwell said. She may not have directly experienced cardiovascular disease, but she takes several actions to reduce her risk, including getting annual checkups, managing her diet, exercising regularly and ensuring that her numbers are at healthy levels. “As a business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day (activities), and certainly time flies, but I am no good to anyone if I’m not healthy,” said Blackwell, adding that she hopes to help bridge disparities in access to health care by identifying which tools and resources — such as insurance, routine heart screenings, CPR kits — are lacking in poorer communities. “This work isn’t done,” Blackwell said. “We’re really pushing hard to raise funds for heart-disease research and to increase the number of volunteers willing to go out and crusade on behalf of the association.” Although Go Red is focused on raising awareness in women, a lot of men have stepped up to the plate to show their support this year in the Circle of Red and Men Go Red socieites, said Blackwell, adding that working collectively is key to reducing heart disease and stroke. “Central Ohio is a great community when it comes to giving and caring for others,” she said. “This is not just a one-off. We really are committed to this year in and year out.”

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section |Wednesday, February 1, 2017 ■

MOUNT CARMEL

Medically based fitness a great next step to a healthier heart

The research is pretty unanimous. Exercise and heart health go hand in hand. But depending on your health circumstances, starting an exercise program — or getting back into one — can be a bit of a daunting task. That’s where programs like Next Steps from Mount Carmel come in. Next Steps is what’s called a medically based fitness program. It’s for people who are either transitioning from or managing a medical condition, or simply need additional support while they exercise. The program offers nine different pathways, including ones for Cancer, Cardiac, Diabetes, Functional, Orthopedic, Pulmonary and Transitional Fitness, as well as a pathway for Weight Management and one called Fit for Surgery. All are available at MC Fitness, Mount Carmel’s new 50,000-square-foot medically integrated fitness center in Lewis Center. “We started the Next Steps program last February and have seen great participation ever since,” said MC Fitness’ fitness manager Sandra Binkowski. “Each program is eight weeks long and includes a pre- and post-program fitness assessment with one of our certified fitness specialists,

an individualized exercise plan, two 60-minute supervised workout sessions per week, and full access to all our facilities and amenities, including our pools, equipment, indoor track and fitness studios. We even offer specialized programs for people with specific goals and challenges.” The whole program is only $99 with a physician referral, and you don’t have to be a member to participate. “We love having this program here, because it allows us to work more closely with folks who need a little more attention and to build relationships with them,” Binkowski added. One of those folks is Charlotte Mason. A 67-year-old Westerville resident with blood pressure issues, she turned to Next Steps after an on-again, off-again relationship with exercise. “I had worked on my blood pressure issues for a while and then got off track,” she said, echoing a refrain common to many of us. “Of course, the issues came back.” “The Next Steps Cardiac Fitness program was a good fit for me,” Mason said. “Personal training seemed a little too intimidating to

Circle of Red & Men Go Red Societies The Circle of Red and Men Go Red societies unite to accelerate the impact Go Red For Women is having on the No. 1 killer of women – cardiovascular diseases. These two elite groups are comprised of women and men who have the influence and resources to significantly impact the heart-health of the community by providing a strong commitment to the Go Red movement. For a full roster of 2017 members, see page 6.

From left to right First row: Laxmi Mehta, M.D., Kara Trott, Tara Abraham, Gale King, Gail Marsh, Anne Ring, Kimberly Blackwell Second row: Anne Albers, M.D., Deb Thresher, Nancy McEwan, Terri Hill, Robert Baxter, Jud Millhon, M.D. Third row: Katie Cannon, Renee Shumate, Elizabeth Seely Fourth row: Amy Shore, Traci Mignery, DeeDee Glimcher, Sue Doody Fifth row: Veronica Hawkins, Amber Hulme, Carole Watkins

me, but doing it in a group felt more comfortable. I was able to have the assessments and see where I was doing well and where I needed to improve. And at two days a week for just eight weeks, it was not a huge commitment.” That commitment paid off, though. “The trainers gave me a wellrounded program to follow, mostly using the machines and the bike,” Mason said. “And I saw an immediate return on my blood pressure readings. It made a significant difference, and it reminded me that exercise doesn’t just make a difference in your health and longevity; it makes a difference in how you feel every day. That was my biggest takeaway.” She also offered a reminder to others like her. “It’s easy as we get older to get more sedentary,” she explained.

“Exercise seems too risky. But supervised programs like this are a good fit as we get older. They’re at least a good place to start.” The Next Steps program at MC Fitness is open to the community. Anyone interested in participating simply needs a referral from a healthcare provider. To learn more call 740879-4850 or visit mcfitnesscenter.com.

Go Red for Women 2017

â&#x2013;

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | Wednesday, February 1, 2017

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section |Wednesday, February 1, 2017 ■

Go Red For Women

Survivors open their hearts and will share their stories at the 2017 Go Red For Women luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Alisa Stottsberry

In August 2016, Alisa Stottsberry took her 10-year-old daughter, Aaliyah, to an amusement park. After riding a roller coaster together, Stottsberry started to feel sick. She had a headache and didn’t feel well but thought it was just from the ride, so she went home. After several weeks of not feeling well, with a constant headache and fatigue, Stottsberry knew she needed help and went to the hospital. Nurses told her she had suffered a stroke, and a shunt was placed in her head. Stottsberry then fell into a coma for 17 days. When she woke up, she was able to communicate, and she was ready to get to work on recovery. In the short time since her stroke, Stottsberry has successfully completed both occupational and physical therapy. Although her right side is still weaker than her left, and her memory is not what it used to be, she is back to work, driving, taking care of her daughter and working hard toward a 100-percent recovery.

Nariscia Goins

At the age of 32, Nariscia Goins was pregnant with twins. But about five and a half months into the pregnancy, she began to

have shortness of breath and was feeling fatigued. After a visit to her OBGYN and a cardiologist, Goins was diagnosed with pregnancy-induced cardiomyopathy and was told her heart was only working at five percent. Shortly after the diagnosis, she was taken in to deliver the twins via C-section nearly three months early. The twins were safely delivered and placed in NICU, and Goins was sent into open-heart surgery a week later. A doctor placed a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in her heart, which acts as a mechanical pump to help patients with heart failure. Three years later, her daughters are healthy as can be, and Goins continues to wear

the LVAD while she waits to be placed on a heart transplant list.

Jackie Flinders

As a young, healthy and active athlete, Jackie Flinders was taken by surprise while playing center field during a high school softball game. She began to experience pressure on her chest and sharp pain. Her coach called out to her asking if she was all right, but she couldn’t respond. The next thing she

remembered was the EMTs standing over her and being taken to the local hospital by squad. There she was diagnosed with a panic attack. No heart evaluations, tests or screenings were performed. Years went by with no more incidents until November 2008. At 22, Jackie experienced the same pain she had during that softball game years earlier. However, this time she was life-flighted to the hospital. There she learned she had cardiomyopathy, or enlargement of the heart, causing it to weaken. Jackie was placed on the hearttransplant list, and now eight years later, she is still waiting for a new heart.

■

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section | Wednesday, February 1, 2017

After 27 years, her heart attack remains vivid Articles BY Denise Blough Dispatch Media Group As a recent college graduate, Karri Schildmeyer wasn’t exactly expecting a heart attack — which is why she didn’t realize what it was when it happened. “I was at work and had a strange sensation in my chest, enough so that I remember getting up from my desk and saying something to my co-workers,” Schildmeyer said. “Of course, I was 22 and healthy, so they had me lie down for a while, and that’s when the sensation moved to my left arm.” Eventually, her co-workers had someone take her to the emergency room, where Schildmeyer was diagnosed with heartburn. So she went to her

second job at the mall, got up the next day for a 6 a.m. aerobics class, and again worked her two jobs before driv- Karri Schildmeyer ing from Columbus to her parents’ house in Galion for Thanksgiving. That’s when Schildmeyer found out that the doctors had re-read her EKG from the day before and realized she had suffered a heart attack. After Thanksgiving Day in the ICU and several tests later, she learned that she had an atrial septal defect — a hole between the upper chambers of her heart — that had likely been present since birth.

Doctors think that a blood clot lodged itself in the hole, inducing the heart attack. If the clot hadn’t been stopped in her heart, it could have travelled to the brain and caused a stroke. “I never had any other symptoms that would indicate that I had a problem, yet I had been living with this hole in my heart,” said Schildmeyer, adding that her family had no history of congenital heart disease. After learning of the atrial septal defect, doctors recommended open-heart surgery. Schildmeyer waited about three months to weigh her options and get a second opinion before she decided to undergo the surgery in March 1990. Today, Schildmeyer is 49 and healthy, and has become

a strong advocate of spreading awareness about heart disease. “So many heart problems are curable and can be monitored with diet, exercise and medicine,” Schildmeyer said. “If you take care of yourself and go to the doctor when you have symptoms or questions, there is a good chance that you’re going to be okay, but you have got to pay attention to your health.” Although improvements in research and education have led doctors to catch heart problems earlier, issues still go undetected — such as in Schildmeyer’s twin sister, Kelli, whose enlarged heart wasn’t diagnosed until age 40. And Schildmeyer’s nephew and Kelli’s son, Matthew, didn’t learn that he had the same condition as his aunt

until he attended a heart screening at his high school in 2011. His heart has since been fixed through a minimally invasive procedure, which is now the norm for repairing atrial septal defects instead of open-heart surgery. Surprises like the ones Schildmeyer has experienced in herself and her family are are why she strives to be a good example of living a healthy lifestyle and listening to her body, she said. “I think 2017 is a big year. I’m sending my first-born children to college; I’m turning 50,” Schildmeyer said. “I want to become the best version of myself — that’s my goal. I want to be a little bit more physically fit, a little bit more mentally fit, and I just want to be present.”

Multiple strokes later and still going strong Navigating her invisible illness The effects of stroke differ greatly from person to person, depending on the type of stroke, the brain area affected and how much tissue was damaged, among others. For Tamica White, 43, the effects are invisible at first glance. But the multiple strokes she has suffered during her lifetime — at ages 20, 32 and 42 — continue to have their repercussions, particularly with spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities. “It shows up in small things that you can’t really see unless you know me very well, like the way that I hold a knife and fork,” White said. “But people assume because I look young, healthy and strong that I can do X, Y and Z.” Her initial stroke at age 20 occurred on a regular summer day, when she suddenly got a severe headache and the left side of her body went numb. Her friend rushed her to the hospital, where an MRI revealed that she had experienced a lacunar infarct, a stroke that obstructs blood flow to the brain’s deep structures. She received speech, physical and occupational therapy for a short time at the hospital before being discharged. “They basically said to take an aspirin every day for the rest of my life and I would never have to worry about it again,” White said, adding that extended therapy may have prevented some of the problems she faces today. “I wish they would’ve taken it as seriously as they may have if I was 65,” she said. Then, at age 32, White suffered a smaller, shorter stroke called a transient ischemic attack. These are often caused by a blood clot, and should be viewed as a warning sign for future

strokes, according to the American Heart Association. She was put on a blood thinner, and remained strokefree for another 10 years — until this past spring. White was playing with her Tamica White children when everything went hazy and she got the same numb feeling on her left side. She was able to inform her partner Mark, who immediately took her to the ER. Luckily, she is okay, and a team of doctors — including a neurologist, cardiologist and hematologist — are working to pinpoint exactly why she has had these strokes to prevent any from happening again. She’s also worked with occupational and physical therapists, which she said has helped her tremendously. “I believe that having the therapy as soon as possible, you have a chance to retrain and heal the damage done by the stroke,” White said. One therapy exercise in particular sticks in her mind. With a barrier in between the table, her occupational therapist assembled four blocks in a simple pattern, and then told White to copy what she did. “Try as I might, I was unable to assemble the blocks in the same way,” White said. “Things like this have been my key problems.” Eventually, she was able to complete the task. “I keep a photo of the blocks on my bedroom mirror. It serves as a reminder of both where I’ve been and how far I’ve come,” she said. “It’s also a powerful reminder of just how fragile life and the state of one’s health can be.” Today, White is focusing on being her healthiest self for her children and

loved ones, and she’s excited about being an advocate for heart disease and stroke awareness. “The thing about diseases of this sort is that we don’t pay attention until we’re impacted by them,” she said. “But there are signs and signals that women and people of color of all ages need to be made aware of.” Between 2000 and 2010, hospitalization from ischemic stroke (the most common type) increased 44 percent among individuals aged 25-44, according to a 2016 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. As part of her therapy, Tamica White relearned simple tasks, such as grouping these blocks together in a particular pattern.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH | Special Advertising Section |Wednesday, February 1, 2017 â&#x2013;