PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – February is American Heart Month and Friday is National Wear Red Day, so Maria Cattani shared her experience with heart disease to raise awareness about the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
Cattani said she was diagnosed at 40 and she recovered after a heart transplant. She is a patient of Dr. Sandra Chaparro at Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.
Many women go undiagnosed. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 60 million have heart disease in the U.S.
“Maria presents with the typical symptoms of heart failure,” Chaparro said.
Chaparro and Cattani listed the symptoms of heart failure to include shortness of breath, fatigue, persistent cough, chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness or lightheadedness, and confusion or memory problems.
Cattani said she had a message for women: “Take care of yourself and follow up with any treatment that you have to do to have a better life because life is beautiful.”
The American Heart Association’s experts recommend prevention and risk reduction. The organization recommends “knowing your numbers” and getting your blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood sugar levels checked.
For more information on the “Go Red for Women” campaign and helpful resources about cardiovascular health, visit goredforwomen.org.
