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American Morning
House Call: Heart Disease Kills 500,000 Women Each Year
Aired April 22, 2003 - 07:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is the No. 1 killer of women in America, but many women might guess wrong if asked what it is.
Making a "House Call" this morning with the answer, our medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, from CNN Center.
Hello -- Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi.
Yes, most women I think would identify breast cancer as the No. 1 health threat to themselves, but in fact that's not it. It is heart disease, the No. 1 killer of both men and women.
Now, actually heart disease kills about 500,000 women a year, whereas breast cancer kills about 40,000 women a year. Heart disease killing more than all cancers combined.
Part of the problem certainly is perception. One in 10 women correctly identified heart disease as the No. 1 threat. The problem also lies with doctors to some extent. About 2 in 10 doctors correctly identified heart disease as a woman's No. 1 health threat.
Another part of the problem are the symptoms. If you look at the most common symptoms -- people know these: chest pain, pain that spreads to the shoulder, pain the arms, shortness of breath, tightness of chest. But when it comes to women, some of the symptoms may be a little bit different. They may, in fact, present with atypical symptoms, such as nausea, unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath with no chest pressure and abdominal pain.
For men and women alike, the sort of goals of treatment, the sort of goals of prevention are the same: eating right, eating healthy, not smoking, watching your cholesterol and watching your weight. And that's certainly as good advice for both men and women.
A big health concern.
Heidi -- back to you.
COLLINS: Indeed it is. I'm wondering about PR campaigns to sort of raise awareness. Are there any out there?
GUPTA: Well, you know, that's a good point. I think thats part of the reason that breast cancer is such on the public agenda is because so many of the PR campaigns, you don't hear about as many of those for heart disease. But, Heidi, maybe of segments like this you'll see more of that. It's a really big issue out there.
COLLINS: All right, very good. Dr. Sanjay Gupta with our "House Call" this morning. Thanks, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired April 22, 2003 - 07:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It is the No. 1 killer of women in America, but many women might guess wrong if asked what it is.
Making a "House Call" this morning with the answer, our medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, from CNN Center.
Hello -- Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi.
Yes, most women I think would identify breast cancer as the No. 1 health threat to themselves, but in fact that's not it. It is heart disease, the No. 1 killer of both men and women.
Now, actually heart disease kills about 500,000 women a year, whereas breast cancer kills about 40,000 women a year. Heart disease killing more than all cancers combined.
Part of the problem certainly is perception. One in 10 women correctly identified heart disease as the No. 1 threat. The problem also lies with doctors to some extent. About 2 in 10 doctors correctly identified heart disease as a woman's No. 1 health threat.
Another part of the problem are the symptoms. If you look at the most common symptoms -- people know these: chest pain, pain that spreads to the shoulder, pain the arms, shortness of breath, tightness of chest. But when it comes to women, some of the symptoms may be a little bit different. They may, in fact, present with atypical symptoms, such as nausea, unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath with no chest pressure and abdominal pain.
For men and women alike, the sort of goals of treatment, the sort of goals of prevention are the same: eating right, eating healthy, not smoking, watching your cholesterol and watching your weight. And that's certainly as good advice for both men and women.
A big health concern.
Heidi -- back to you.
COLLINS: Indeed it is. I'm wondering about PR campaigns to sort of raise awareness. Are there any out there?
GUPTA: Well, you know, that's a good point. I think thats part of the reason that breast cancer is such on the public agenda is because so many of the PR campaigns, you don't hear about as many of those for heart disease. But, Heidi, maybe of segments like this you'll see more of that. It's a really big issue out there.
COLLINS: All right, very good. Dr. Sanjay Gupta with our "House Call" this morning. Thanks, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
