Women should not take heart health for granted

Beverly Gilchrist-Hobson, 55, of Freeport, was “feeling fatigued and short of breath.” Although concerned, the high-energy, fitnessconscious advocate for crime victims chalked up her symptoms to a hectic lifestyle and job stress.

If Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson had been aware at the time, however, that recurrent fatigue and shortness of breath are two of the most common symptoms of heart failure in women, she would have scheduled an appointment to see her physician.

Instead, Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson found herself at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department, weakened and struggling to catch her breath. “I thought I had Covid-19 or an infection,” she recalled.

Her blood pressure was significantly elevated, a chest X-ray showed fluid in her lungs, and an electrocardiogram (EKG) detected weakness in her heart’s electrical system. Cardiologist Sherry Megalla, MD, was consulted, ordered medication to lower her blood pressure, and admitted her to the hospital for testing, including a CT scan of her brain and lungs, an angiogram, and an echocardiogram (a test that measures blood flow in the heart). Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson was diagnosed with heart failure.

Dr. Megalla prescribed a low-sodium diet, ongoing blood pressure testing, and the 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program provided by Mount

Sinai South Nassau Cardiac Rehabilitation in Oceanside, which is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson’s symptoms were similar to what men with heart failure experience. However, women often have more subtle symptoms for heart attack – not the chest pain commonly seen in men. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing one in every three deaths each year.

Ultimately, Dr. Megalla diagnosed hypertension as the cause of Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson’s heart failure. Fully recovered, Ms. Gilchrist-Hobson has learned that “you cannot take health for granted,” and she urges other women to “get checked out by a cardiologist.” “I didn’t realize the importance of heart function. … I thought, I’m relatively youthful, I didn’t have chest pains, so I downplayed it,” she said. “Now, I understand that having my heart checked is as important as my annual mammogram and PAP smear.”

In addition to Dr. Megalla, Mount Sinai South Nassau provides patients access to a network of board certified cardiologists and cardiac surgeons who use the latest advancements in cardiac care to treat the range of cardiovascular conditions, from coronary artery disease to atrial fibrillation. If