Women and Heart Disease: Are We Still At A Loss?

On Medical Grounds

“Because what happens is that the symptoms in men are presumed to be the gold standard. And the symptoms in women are considered atypical. Well, they’re not atypical. They’re typical for women. And we then have to define what is specific to women.” - Dr. Nanette Wenger
Today On Medical Grounds, we will be speaking with Dr. Nanette Wenger about heart disease in women, differences in risks, and how women talk about symptoms of heart disease differently than men. Dr. Wenger is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the Emory University School of Medicine. Her career is a series of firsts. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1954 as one of their first female graduates. During her postgraduate work at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, she became the first woman to be chief resident in the cardiology department. Throughout her career, Dr. Wenger has focused on heart disease in women, despite the consensus in the medical community that this was a disease found primarily in men. In 1993, Dr. Wenger co-wrote a landmark review article that demonstrated that cardiovascular disease affects women as much as men. Prior to this point in time, women were more likely to die from the disease because their symptoms were not recognized. She also helped write the 2007 guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease in women. As a pioneer in gender disparities in medicine, Dr. Wenger has devoted her career to understanding how coronary artery disease affects women.
For additional show notes including an infographic on the state of women in hart disease, please visit OnMedicalGrounds.com.
(00:47) Introducing Dr. Wenger
(02:23) Why cardiology?
(03:30) When did Dr. Wenger discover heart disease was different in women?
(07:41) How is heart disease different for women?
(12:36) How are we falling behind on awareness and care?

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Chapters

1. Women and Heart Disease: Are We Still At A Loss? (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Dr. Wenger (00:00:47)

3. Why cardiology? (00:02:23)

4. When did Dr. Wenger discover heart disease was different in women? (00:03:30)

5. How is heart disease different for women? (00:07:41)

6. How are we falling behind on awareness and care? (00:12:36)