At Dayton Heart Hospital we are focused on putting our patients first in every way; both our male and female patients. It is alarming that one in five women has some form of cardiovascular disease and it kills more women than the next 16 causes of death combined. Here are some interesting statistics:

• 8,000,000 American women are currently living with heart disease
• 435,000 American women have heart attacks each year
• 13% of women age 45 and over have had a heart attack
• 44% of women who have heart attacks die within a year compared to 27% of men
• The death rate due to heart disease is 69% higher in black women that white women

Misperceptions still exist that cardiovascular disease is not a real problem for women. Combined with the data that suggests that heart attack symptoms in women vary from those of men, it has been found that a significant number of women are more likely to seek medical help later, be under diagnosed, and therefore at an even greater risk.

The good news is that we can do something about it. Dayton Heart Hospital intends to make a difference for women and cardiovascular disease. The following pages will provide new and useful information regarding women and cardiovascular care.

It is our goal to share ways to identify disease at its earliest and most treatable stages, to provide you with healthy heart lifestyle recommendations, and ultimately to prevent and reverse heart disease.

Cordially yours,

Hema Pandrangi, M.D.