Month: September 2012

World Heart Day: focus on women and children

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas

It’s easy to forget that heart disease is not only our biggest health threat here in North America, but it also wins that dubious prize worldwide.  Over 17 million cardiovascular disease deaths will occur this year – half of whom will be in females. That’s why the Swiss-based World Heart Federation has launched an international goal of reducing premature heart disease deaths by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

The Federation also reminds us of the myth that cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are lifestyle diseases that primarily affect older, wealthy, male populations.  Continue reading “World Heart Day: focus on women and children” →

A heart film to watch before “Pinktober” arrives

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 6 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

We’re approaching the Pink season, my heart sisters. It’s that time of year when breast cancer awareness campaigns and their accompanying corporate marketing shills rev into high gear. Last Pinktober, we saw pink buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken, pink-handled Tasers, and (yes, seriously) pink Smith & Wesson handguns – each somehow helping us to be more aware of breast cancer.

What could possibly top what breast cancer survivor and author Barbara Ehrenreich calls this “cult of pink kitsch” again this year?

From my perspective as a 35+ year veteran in the public relations field, I have to say that my friends working in breast cancer fundraising have done a fabulous job in raising awareness of their cause. So fabulous, in fact, that they have erroneously convinced women that breast cancer is our biggest health threat.

It is not, of course.  This year, heart disease will kill 5-6 times more women than breast cancer will.  In fact, heart disease kills more women each year than all forms of cancer combined.  Continue reading “A heart film to watch before “Pinktober” arrives” →

“Is my bra too tight?” – a poem for heart patients

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 44 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥  @HeartSisters

Numbness in the lip. Persistent cough. Pain between shoulder blades. Buzzing elbows. I thought I’d heard just about every possible vague or unusual heart disease symptom in women so far, but there’s one that I had never heard about until just recently.  And since then, women seem to be coming out of the woodwork to add that they too have experienced this peculiar cardiac symptom.   Continue reading ““Is my bra too tight?” – a poem for heart patients” →

My lowly beginnings as an empowered patient

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 13 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

I still remember the day when it all began. I was very sick (don’t remember exactly what the sickness was, because I was only about five years old at the time). But I was sick enough for my mother to call our family physician, Dr. Zaritsky, who came right over to the house to see me.  (Yes, that is how old I am. I actually do remember when family docs made house calls).

Dr. Zaritsky declared that I needed an injection to treat whatever was ailing me, but – horrors! – the injection was to be done by pulling down my pajama bottoms and jabbing me right in the bare bum.

I was outraged!   Continue reading “My lowly beginnings as an empowered patient” →