It’s the number one cause of death in both Oklahoma and the
nation. In 2006, it claimed more than one in every four women,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC). Yet there are ways to battle heart disease and to win the
fight for your heart. Although some may think of heart disease
as a disease that mainly affects men, the same number of women
and men die each year of heart disease in the United States.
Often women may not recognize the signs of a heart attack or
perceive themselves at risk for heart disease. Dr. Katherine
Hays is a board-certified cardiologist at Norman Regional Health
System, who treats both men and women with heart disease. The
Health System brings total cardiac care to Oklahomans - from the
doctor’s office to the specialized Chest Pain Center at the
HealthPlex to operating rooms. Almost two-thirds of the women
who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous
symptoms, according to the CDC. Dr. Hays said women tend to have
a higher proportion of atypi