Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Heart health for women

South metro area has its first female cardiologist

Women who live on the south side of Atlanta have a new advocate when it comes to heart health.

Dr. Meryl Braunstein, a progressive physician dedicated to improving women's cardiovascular health, is the first and only female cardiologist to practice in the south metro Atlanta area.

A New York City native, Braunstein moved to the metro Atlanta area with a commitment to increase cardiovascular health education among women.

"Many times women's health issues are not taken seriously or they are put on the backburner," she said. "I'm attuned to issues related to women's health and also I'm a fairly proactive clinician when it comes to preventing and treating cardiovascular problems."

The leading killer of women in America, cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths among women than all forms of cancer combined. Given this data, Braunstein says it is surprising that women in their 40s and 50s include mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies in their routine health maintenance plans, but forget about screening for cardiovascular disease.

Misperceptions still exist that cardiovascular disease is not a real problem for women although, according to the American Heart Association, it is estimated that one in two women will eventually die of cardiovascular heart disease or stroke, compared with one in 25 who will eventually die of breast cancer.

Braunstein hopes to increase women's odds in the fight against cardiovascular disease through a series of cardiovascular health fairs for women. Designed to promote routine cardiovascular disease screening, the health fairs will offer free blood pressure checks, free ECG tests, cholesterol screening and free consultation and information on cardiac risk factors.

"Prevention of heart disease starts with reducing risk factors," said Braunstein. "The first thing I want to accomplish with these health fairs is to help women identify if they are at high risk. If they are, let's talk about how to modify that risk."

Barbara Standish, 67, says this kind of preventive care is what saved her life. When she complained of chest pains, her primary care physician referred her to Atlanta Heart Associates.

"Dr. Braunstein determined I was at risk and told me not to wait the next time I experienced the pains, but to go straight to the hospital," said Standish. Two days after her visit, Standish took Braunstein's advice and ended up receiving emergency angioplasty to remove a blockage in her artery.

Standish is now on medication to manage her cardiovascular disease and receives regular follow-up care. "Dr. Braunstein explains everything I mean everything," she said. "She gives me good advice, I do what she tells me to do, and that's the only reason I'm alive today."

Dr. Braunstein is an associate with Atlanta Heart Associates and is currently available to see patients in the Riverdale, Stockbridge and Locust Grove offices. For more information about upcoming cardiovascular health fairs, contact Atlanta Heart Associates at 770-907-9009.