Women and Our Hearts

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In order to advance women, we must first keep them alive.

– Stevi Carr, CEO and Founder of WISe Wellness Guild 

Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of women, killing an estimated one woman per minute. At WISe Wellness Guild, it is our mission to invest in the whole-self wellness of women, driving awareness and adoption of healthier habits earlier to enable them to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

One of the ways we invest in women is consistently catching up with Dr. Odayme Quesada, MD, who joined The Christ Hospital to support women’s cardiac care as Medical Director of its groundbreaking Women’s Heart Center.

Dr. Quesada graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida in Gainesville and received her Medical Degree and Master of Health Science from Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at University of California San Francisco, where she received the UCSF Service Award and was Assistant Professor at UCSF working in advanced heart failure prior to starting cardiology training. 

And according to Dr. Quesada, the recommended American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 is what we should follow as women. 

This includes:

1. Managing blood pressure
2. Controlling cholesterol
   Improving your diet and getting enough exercise can help lower your cholesterol. See "What Exactly is Cholesterol and How Can You Control It?" from The Christ Hospital here.
3. Reduce blood sugar
4. Getting active
   The American Heart Association recommends 150 to 300 minutes of exercise each week. Keep track of the minutes you walk each day and shoot for at least 30 minutes/five days a week (150 minutes). 
   See "Taking Steps Toward a Healthy Heart" from The Christ Hospital here.
5. Eating better
   You can even eat mindfully while watching the Super Bowl! Catch "10 Heart-Healthy Plays for the Big Game" from The Christ Hospital here.
6. Maintaining a healthy weight
   Maintain a healthy weight no matter your age. We love the article "Healthy Weight Management for Women" here from The Christ Hospital, which answers lots of FAQs around this topic.
7. Stop smoking
   Smoking can double your risk of a heart attack. Check out "All the Reasons to Quit Smoking" here from The Christ Hospital.

Just as important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, is knowing and understanding the signs of a heart attack in women. According to Dr. Quesada, “Women with heart disease do not always present with classic chest pain (as men).”

Symptoms that women experience include:

• Epigastric pain
• Shortness of breath
• Shoulder pain
• Neck pain
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Indigestion

If you or a woman you know is experiencing heart symptoms, call The Women’s Heart Center at 513-585-2140. In addition to receiving the care or second opinion needed, you may be eligible for inclusion in Dr. Quesada’s research.          

For more information on Women's Health at the Christ Hospital, check out our resource page here.

Access preventative care and screenings, find specialists near you and schedule appointments through the The Christ Hospital EZ Care Concierge.

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