The medical world is making strides when it comes to women’s hearts. For example, GPs are more likely to recognize the risks in women who used to have high blood pressure during pregnancy. The cardiologists from the very beginning – Harriette Verwey, Janneke Wittekoek and Angela Maas – share their good news for women’s hearts on ‘Dress red day’ in Amstelveen.
1 GPs are more alert to the heart
Ten years ago, as a woman with heart complaints, you could still hear from your GP: ‘You have a busy family, a job and you are a caregiver. That’s where the complaints come from.’ Whereupon you were sent away without any checks. That is changing. If you already had high blood pressure during pregnancy, a bell rings with the doctor more often these days. This is partly thanks to the new guideline for women’s hearts that was published in the Lancet under the leadership of cardiologist Angela Maas. Maas: ‘Women tend to blame themselves for complaints. Take your complaints seriously and make them negotiable.’
2 The transition is better recognized as a danger zone
After the menopause, the risk of heart disease increases because the protective effect of the female hormone estrogen is lost. The problem is that heart complaints are often confused with menopausal complaints. It is therefore always important to have an investigation done in the event of complaints. Verwey is clear about this: ‘Require the GP to examine you. For example because you are in the menopause, because that is a good reason. Complicated pregnancies must be checked between the ages of 35 and 40. An examination is also important in family who have a heart problem at a young age.’
3 More attention to ‘Know your numbers’
From the transition, it is extra important to know whether your BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar values and other values are still on the safe side and to do something about it. Cardiologist Janneke Wittekoek’s motto is ‘Know your numbers’. Wittekoek has drawn attention to knowing the numbers on all kinds of stages, and even in theater performances. Because it is actually too late for the women in the cardiologist’s office, the three cardiologists admit. These women already have heart problems. They would rather see women get to work at an earlier stage to live healthier lives and keep an eye on the numbers. Wittekoek: ‘Actually, it should already be learned at the end of primary school.’
4 Practice assistant smart help from GP
General practitioners are of course busy, but the practice nurse can also carry out many examinations. Ask for it. Maas adds that you can also take matters into your own hands: buy a good blood pressure monitor. Maas: ‘You can share that from the neighbor. It may be easier than stepping on the scale, and you can keep an eye on it yourself. Check your blood pressure at different times. If it is too high, you can arrange a 24-hour measurement through your GP.’
5 Twenty centers are testing for vasospasm
Where men more often suffer from clogged large heart vessels, women more often suffer from spasms in the small vessels of the heart. This used to be difficult to research, but a new method has been developed for this. The twentieth center is now open. Maas: ‘It is spreading like an oil slick, it really is an improvement in diagnostics.’
These developments were shared during the panel discussion after the screening of Hella de Jonge’s film about the heart of women. The cardiologists also appear in this personal film. It can be viewed at: https://helladejonge.nl/video/de-slag-om-het-vrouwenhart-metaal/
