The Women's Heart Center - St. Joseph's Healthcare System, Paterson New Jersey

The Women's Heart Center The Women’s Heart Center, established in 2005, provides women with a 45-minute cardiovascular risk assessment. The screening is performed by an Advanced Practice Nurse and evaluates a woman’s risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

The assessment, which costs $30.00, includes blood pressure testing, cholesterol testing, blood sugar testing, body fat analysis, a physical exam, body measurements, and a complete patient medical and family history.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. The Women’s Heart Center is dedicated improving awareness of heart disease risk, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, in addition to offering access to appropriate evaluations and care.

To schedule an appointment or for more information about The Women’s Heart Center, please contact us: 973.754.2600.

For additional information, please visit www.stjosephswomensheart.org.

Our Recent Press Coverage

Heart Healthy Awareness - News report from My9 News; Monday, March 1, 2010

Educating the Indian Community About Heart Disease - December 2009

The Women's Heart Center at St. Joseph's was featured on New Jersey Network News and WNET News on Tuesday, April 21st.

Check back for more information!

Women's Heart Center Screenings

The 45-minute comprehensive cardiac risk assessment screening is provided by an Advanced Practice Nurse in TheWomen's Heart Center. Screenings are offered at Women's Heart Center offices located at either St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson or St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital in Wayne.

To schedule a comprehensive cardiac risk assessment screening at The Women's Heart Center, please email Gail Thompson or Lucy Ortiz or call 973-754-2600.

The screening evaluates a woman's risk factors for heart disease and stroke and includes the following:

A Complete Patient Medical History---This history will help to identify a woman's risk for cardiovascular disease.

A Complete Family History--- Women are at an increased risk for heart disease if their family members, especially their female relatives have been diagnosed with heart disease.

Physical Exam--- This exam will focus on the cardiovascular system. This includes examination of the heart, lungs and major blood vessels in the body.

Blood Pressure Testing--- Blood pressure will be measured in both arms and both legs.

Cholesterol Testing and Blood Sugar--- The total cholesterol, HDL or "good" cholesterol, the LDL or "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and blood sugar will be measured. Results will be reviewed during the visit.

Waist/Hip/Neck Measurement, Waist to Hip Ratio, Body Mass Index and Body Fat Analysis--- Excess weight and body fat increases a woman's risk for heart disease and diabetes. The area of the body where a woman carries her weight may also increase her risk for heart disease.

Ankle Brachial Index--- The ratio of leg to arm blood pressure will be evaluated to determine the adequacy of circulation in the woman's legs.

Following the screening the advanced practice nurse discusses the physical examination and test results. Each woman's individual risk for developing cardiovascular disease will be evaluated. The nurse will offer specific recommendations for lifestyle changes and provide information and strategies to reduce the risk for heart disease. Each woman will be given an individualized treatment plan that may include recommendations for additional cardiac testing.

Women whose initial evaluation indicates that they may be at intermediate or high risk for heart disease will be encouraged to undergo some of the following tests:

C-Reactive Protein--- A blood test that measures the level of inflammation in the body. Increased levels of C-Reactive protein may indicate that a woman is at an increased risk for having a heart attack or a stroke.
Echocardiogram - An Ultrasound of the heart which measures the size of the heart chambers, the heart's pumping capacity and the functioning of the heart valves.
Electrocardiogram-abbreviated as either EKG or ECG---is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.
Intimal Medial Thickness--- An ultrasound of the neck arteries. Thickening of the walls of these arteries indicates an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring--- This is a CT Scan of the vessels supplying the heart with blood. The higher the calcium score the greater the risk for a heart attack.
Nuclear Stress Test--- A test used to determine whether all areas of the heart are receiving an adequate amount of blood. Pictures are taken to compare the heart's blood supply at rest and after exercise.

Who Should Undergo A Comprehensive Cardiac Risk Assessment Screening at The Women's Heart Center?

Women who have:

Diabetes or who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes
Borderline or high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
Family history of heart disease
Symptoms of heart disease, including shortness of breath, palpitations or fatigue

Women who are:

Pre/Peri/Post-menopausal women
Smokers
Overweight
Interested in starting a new exercise program
Unsure of their risk factors for either heart disease, stroke or diabetes

Women’s Heart Center Educational Programs

The Women’s Heart Center at St. Joseph’s offers community education seminars designed to educate women about their risk for heart disease, provide strategies for heart disease risk reduction, and increase awareness of the signs of a heart attack and stroke in women.

Since heart disease risk reduction should begin as early as possible, women of all ages are encouraged to attend these presentations.

Presentations are available for all women’s professional and social organizations.

If you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your group or organization call 973.754.2868.

Risk Factors

If you or a loved one, family member or friend experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

A woman's risk factors for heart disease and stroke can be divided into two categories:

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors--- Risk factors that cannot be changed
Modifiable Risk Factors---Risk factors that can be changed.

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors include:

Age--- A woman's risk for heart disease and stroke increases as she gets older. After menopause, a woman is two to three times more likely to develop heart disease. o Family History-- If you have family members especially female relatives with heart disease or who have had a stroke, you are at increased risk for heart disease/stroke.
Race or Ethnicity--- African-American women have a higher incidence of heart disease and stroke. Hispanic women have a higher incidence of diabetes which is a very strong risk factor for heart disease in women.

Modifiable Risk Factors include:

Smoking--- Women who smoke are four times more likely to suffer a heart attack or die from heart disease than nonsmokers. Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day doubles a woman's risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease. Within two years of quitting smoking, a woman's risk of heart disease is reduced by fifty percent.
Diabetes--- Diabetes increases a woman's risk of developing heart disease three to seven fold as compared with two to three fold in men.
Metabolic Syndrome--- The Metabolic Syndrome is a group of risk factors that increases a woman's risk for developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
High Blood Pressure--- High blood pressure increases a woman's risk for both heart attack and stroke. More than 50 percent of women over age 55 have high blood pressure.
High Cholesterol Levels--- Low levels of HDL or "good cholesterol" or high levels of LDL or "bad cholesterol" or triglycerides increase a woman's risk for heart disease and stroke.
Overweight and Obesity--- Women with excess body fat are more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Physical Inactivity--- A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for heart disease. The American Heart Associations recommends thirty minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5-7 days a week to reduce the risk for heart disease.
Stress--- Chronic or sudden emotional stress can increase your risk for certain cardiac conditions.
Carotid Artery Disease--- Or a history of TIAs ("mini strokes") increases a woman's risk for both a heart attack or stroke.

Symptoms

If you or a loved one, family member or friend experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

The classic symptoms of a heart attack are:

Chest Pain
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Nausea

Although chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, women often experience vague chest discomfort frequently described as pressure, burning, tightness or an ache.

Common additional symptoms of a heart attack in women:

Shortness of breath
Vomiting
Indigestion
Weakness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Shoulder blade pain
Change in Migraine Pattern, Migraine with Aura

Symptoms Of A Stroke

If you or a loved one, family member or friend experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

A stroke, often called a "brain attack" occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain gets blocked or bursts. When a stroke occurs, the affected part of the brain doesn't get the blood it needs and this part of the brain starts to die.

The warning signs of a stroke include these symptoms, which come on suddenly:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Some people report that they feel like a "shade is being pulled down over their eye."
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

If you or a loved one, family member or friend experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately!

Time lost is brain lost!

What are the risk factors for a stroke?

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
High cholesterol
Smoking
Physical inactivity
Carotid Artery Disease
TIA or "mini stroke"
Certain blood disorders

Risk Factors That Can't Be Changed Include:

Age--- Risk for stroke increases with age.
Gender--- More men than women have a stroke each year. But, at all ages, more women than men die of stroke.
Family History--- If a parent, grandparent, brother or sister has had a stroke, you are at increased risk for having a stroke.
Previous history of heart attack or stroke--- If you have had a stroke, you are at much higher risk for having another one. If you have had a heart attack, you are also at increased risk for having a stroke.

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