Dignity Health Cardiologist and Patient Discuss Women’s Heart Health on Good Day Sacramento

Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women. In addition, women tend to ignore the signs of heart disease, attributing symptoms, which are far different than heart disease symptoms in men, to fatigue, stress or just being overwhelmed with the daily demands of life.

Wendy Harris is a 41-year-old soccer mom from Elk Grove, who one day in October, 2014, wasn’t feeling well. She was having trouble breathing but decided it was nothing and probably just a little anxiety attack. Hours later, Wendy was in Mercy General Hospital, where doctors determined she had spontaneous coronary artery dissection, which is when the coronary artery suddenly splits. In addition, her other two arteries collapsed and doctors told her family she had a 50 percent chance of surviving. She had a triple bypass and survived. Doctors at Mercy General called her “Mercy’s Miracle,” because she survived. Today, Wendy is back to work, exercising, and counting her blessings.

Wendy and her cardiologist, Arvin Arthur, MD, Dignity Health Heart & Vascular Institute, were interviewed live in the studios of KMAX Channel 31’s Good Day Sacramento morning show on, Tuesday, Feb. 23. They discussed Wendy’s medical journey as well as the symptoms of heart disease in women and heart health.

Watch!

Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute of Greater Sacramento has one of the largest, most experienced cardiac teams in the nation. At Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute, we combine advanced heart care services with a personalized level of dignity, respect and compassion. When you choose Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute of Greater Sacramento, you entrust your care to a nationally recognized leader in heart and vascular care. Our team performs more cardiac bypass surgeries than any other hospital in California.