October 19, 2022 • 12 mins
Despite the best efforts of heart health experts, only 56% of women recognize that heart disease is their No. 1 killer; among African American women that number drops to just 25%. Jean Cacciabaudo, MD, medical director at Huntington Hospital, renowned cardiologist and member of Northwell Health's Katz Institute for Women's Health, sits down with Sandra Lindsay, RN to discuss the differences between men and women when it comes to heart disease, what health systems are doing to address disparities in care, and what women seeking a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon should know.
This bonus edition of 20-Minute Health Talk continues the conversation from the previous episode, which featured a panel of cardiovascular experts offering tips for patients looking for a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. You can listen to that conversation here.
Learn more about cardiology, cardiac surgery and women's heart health services at Northwell Health.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rob Hoell (00:00):
Hello and welcome to 20-Minute Health Talk.
Today we are launching a new series hosted by Sandra Lindsay.
This bonus
episode of 20-Minute Health Talk will continue the conversation with fresh
voices and perspectives.
This is a new and exciting chapter for this podcast.
As we welcome Sandra Lindsay to our team, the Frontline nurse and
(00:24):
Presidential medal of freedom
recipient spent 29 years in nursing most recently, serving, as
director of Critical Care Nursing at a Long Island Jewish Medical
Center in New Hyde Park.
Like so many nurses, she worked tirelessly during the pandemic, then
Sandra volunteered to become the first American vaccinated with the
Pfizer and BioNTech covid-19 vaccine on December 14 2020.
(00:46):
She currently serves as vice president of public health advocacy for
northwell health and joins us now. Sandra first of all, welcome to the
podcast.
Sandra Lindsay (00:56):
Thanks, Rob for that
warm welcome.
It's exciting to start this next chapter of my career with you and the
team and I'm so excited to be a part of this podcast.
Rob (01:05):
We've known each other for years before Covid outbreak and it's just
so great to work
with you,
it's been great working with you in the past,
and I just can't wait to see what you bring to the podcast.
Sandra (01:15):
That's right, you came over to Long Island.
Jewish Medical Center after the first wave and helped us to really,
you know, show the power of team nursing as we could not have gotten
through that first wave without a team nursing approach.
Rob (01:33):
And it was so I was so proud to be in the room when you got that first
shot seen around the world and really, you know, helped us in our
fight against Covid and
kind of hopefully bring an end to it.
Sandra (01:50):
Thanks Rob picking up on your conversation last week.
You spoke with a panel of experts about how to pick a cardiologist or
cardiac surgeon.
Rob (02:04):
What is the age that people start
seeing these types of problems and when should people start thinking
about these types of things, Dr.
Singh?
Dr. Singh (02:12):
You know, I've seen patients, some sure you guys have seen patients in
their late 20s that present with heart attacks, and that are very,
very sick but in general above the age of 35, if you have risk
factors, that's when cardiovascular disease really becomes the number
one killer of men and women.
Sandra (02:32):
One of the considerations that really stuck out to me was the role
gender plays when picking a cardiologist.
This is such an important topic. For decades,
the working assumption has been that, aside from conditions specific
to women, men's and women's bodies show symptoms and react to
(02:53):
treatment in the same way.
We now know that is simply not true, particularly
when it comes to heart disease. I met up with Dr.
Jean Cacciabaudo, medical director at Huntington Hospital, and a
renowned cardiologist, to ask her, what are the differences between men
(03:14):
and women as it relates to heart disease?
What our health systems doing to address disparities in care.
And what women seek in a cardiologist should know
All right.
Hello Dr.
(03:35):
Cacciabaudo, it's such a pleasure being here with you today at
Huntington Hospital.
I'm so excited to be speaking with you about women's heart health and
how to choose a cardiologist.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (03:48):
Thank you so much for inviting me to spend some time with you.
Sandra (03:52):
Despite increase in awareness over the past decades, only about half
of women
recognize
that heart disease is their number one killer. Another survey showed
that only one in five African-American woman believe that they are at
high risk of heart disease.
(04:15):
Do you think that women still see cardiac disease as a man's disease?
Dr. Cacciabaudo (04:21):
I do and I think the medical community, to a certain degree,
feels the same way. The Framingham heart study, which was started and
the first round of data came out in the 1960s, really did make it
about a man's problem.
(04:43):
The early studies that are a precursor to what we just mentioned, by
the CDC, one in five women,
all women didn't even recognize that heart disease was a health threat
and so organizations, like the American Heart Association started, the
Go Red For Women movement and I thank you for wearing red to honor
(05:06):
that. That was a 20-year journey to today,
we're finally seeing women recognize their risk and actually showing
the value of preventive strategies.
Sandra (05:21):
And this is a great segue into my next question.
So Dr. C,
tell me about the difference between males and females as it relates
to heart disease.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (05:33):
So it starts with the way heart attacks happen and that starts with
plaque build-up which actually starts building up when you're in your
teens and then over time depending on your risk factors and your diet
and cholesterol and exercise, the plaque
can become increased and cause blockages men's blockages tend to
(06:00):
load and rupture open.
We call that plaque rupture. Women's tend to erode where the top of
the plaque just starts wearing away.
It does probably account for the symptom differences as well.
So the classic symptoms of heart disease is chest pain, like pressure
(06:21):
on your chest, arm pain,
usually we say going down your left arm up into your jaw, sometimes
into your back.
So these are the classic symptoms, men typically have them and
honestly, most women do too, but then there are the atypical symptoms
which are more subtle.
It is shortness of breath or feeling easily, tired, heartburn or even
(06:47):
headaches.
I always tell my patients that despite your, you know, classic
symptoms or the more atypical symptoms usually associated with that
is an inner voice
inside your body.
That's saying you've never had this before.
Like this is, this is different than anything you've ever had.
(07:08):
You know, you should go get it checked out and you have to listen to
that voice.
The next question, then is who you going to call and that's your
trusted partner in health and hopefully everyone has one.
Sandra (07:22):
So, where should women look for a cardiologist, and should the gender
of the practitioner play a role in their decision?
That is, I'm going to start with the second question,
because it's really timely.
So, the American College of Cardiology just this past, March published
an article where they looked at the outcomes.
(07:45):
So how well blood pressure's controlled? How well cholesterol levels are
lowered?
How less frequently symptoms, go on to be a heart attack?
So women, when they take
women cardiologists, taking care of women patients, do a better job
(08:06):
than men, taking care of women.
But to go to the first part of that question, you know, where to look
here at North Well,
we have this great service, it's called the North Well
Find a Doc and you can Google a name or a Google a ZIP code, or a
city and then say specialty and you can find your
(08:29):
Northwell Health Physician partner doctors who all have star ratings based
on the thoughts and opinions of patients, like real patients
and your comments are there.
And then even our other Physicians that are volunteers here in the
health system are on that site, too.
(08:50):
So it's a great resource to help you pick your your partner because
that's really what it is.
Absolutely.
So, I'd like to follow up with another question.
African-American women are disproportionately affected by heart
disease, leading the debt rate regardless of age, what are some
(09:12):
suggestions for addressing equity in care?
Dr. Cacciabaudo (09:17):
So, it starts with knowing that statistic, which really is a call to
action.
And so it is, I think for women,
us, as, you know, kind of the women in the know, to get out and
spread the word, Empower with education and knowledge, and go into
(09:45):
spaces, which may be a little, you know, a-typical like
partnering with church groups. So finding, you know, black women
African-American women,
where they're most comfortable as opposed to you know the more traditional
(10:06):
spaces like a lecture hall or a luncheon.
It is about knowledge and empowering with the education.
Sandra (10:15):
So it's going where they go to keep them in the know.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (10:18):
Exactly.
Given the differences Dr. C, in men and women, what can Health
Systems do to help tailor treatment for women?
So this really is the Nexus of the Katz Institute for Women's
Health because it's about education and empowering women, but it's
(10:44):
also about understanding the sex differences.
So, you know, women have two X chromosomes men, have an X and a Y
chromosome, and that results in cells that are different.
And so, how do we understand those differences?
How do we modulate, those differences?
How do we impact with different medications?
(11:08):
And, and so, I feel as a health system, Northwell Health has taken
this responsibility
seriously. We have the Katz Institute, we have Physicians who are
credentialed to be members, you know?
There's a process to say you're a Katz Physician, you have to apply,
(11:29):
you have to
be vetted by a committee, and you have to be committed to research,
education, empowerment for Women's Health.
So I think Northwell's on the right path.
Not only are we on the right path.
I think we're leading the path.
(11:49):
We're showing other organizations how to walk the talk.
And, you know, I think many
organizations
look to us.
Sandra (12:02):
Awesome Dr. C
it's been a pleasure speaking with you today and I have to say the
field of Cardiology is really lucky to have someone like you to you
know, influence young ladies and create this social contagion that we
need to get more women into the stem fields and into research, really
a pleasure speaking to you today.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (12:24):
Thank you so much.
I am equally honored to be here.
Get more expert Insight from the leading voices in healthcare today.
You can subscribe to 20-Minute Health Talk wherever podcasts are
available.
Hello and welcome to 20-Minute Health Talk.
Today we are launching a new series hosted by Sandra Lindsay.
This bonus
episode of 20-Minute Health Talk will continue the conversation with fresh
voices and perspectives.
This is a new and exciting chapter for this podcast.
As we welcome Sandra Lindsay to our team, the Frontline nurse and
(00:24):
Presidential medal of freedom
recipient spent 29 years in nursing most recently, serving, as
director of Critical Care Nursing at a Long Island Jewish Medical
Center in New Hyde Park.
Like so many nurses, she worked tirelessly during the pandemic, then
Sandra volunteered to become the first American vaccinated with the
Pfizer and BioNTech covid-19 vaccine on December 14 2020.
(00:46):
She currently serves as vice president of public health advocacy for
northwell health and joins us now. Sandra first of all, welcome to the
podcast.
Sandra Lindsay (00:56):
Thanks, Rob for that
warm welcome.
It's exciting to start this next chapter of my career with you and the
team and I'm so excited to be a part of this podcast.
Rob (01:05):
We've known each other for years before Covid outbreak and it's just
so great to work
with you,
it's been great working with you in the past,
and I just can't wait to see what you bring to the podcast.
Sandra (01:15):
That's right, you came over to Long Island.
Jewish Medical Center after the first wave and helped us to really,
you know, show the power of team nursing as we could not have gotten
through that first wave without a team nursing approach.
Rob (01:33):
And it was so I was so proud to be in the room when you got that first
shot seen around the world and really, you know, helped us in our
fight against Covid and
kind of hopefully bring an end to it.
Sandra (01:50):
Thanks Rob picking up on your conversation last week.
You spoke with a panel of experts about how to pick a cardiologist or
cardiac surgeon.
Rob (02:04):
What is the age that people start
seeing these types of problems and when should people start thinking
about these types of things, Dr.
Singh?
Dr. Singh (02:12):
You know, I've seen patients, some sure you guys have seen patients in
their late 20s that present with heart attacks, and that are very,
very sick but in general above the age of 35, if you have risk
factors, that's when cardiovascular disease really becomes the number
one killer of men and women.
Sandra (02:32):
One of the considerations that really stuck out to me was the role
gender plays when picking a cardiologist.
This is such an important topic. For decades,
the working assumption has been that, aside from conditions specific
to women, men's and women's bodies show symptoms and react to
(02:53):
treatment in the same way.
We now know that is simply not true, particularly
when it comes to heart disease. I met up with Dr.
Jean Cacciabaudo, medical director at Huntington Hospital, and a
renowned cardiologist, to ask her, what are the differences between men
(03:14):
and women as it relates to heart disease?
What our health systems doing to address disparities in care.
And what women seek in a cardiologist should know
All right.
Hello Dr.
(03:35):
Cacciabaudo, it's such a pleasure being here with you today at
Huntington Hospital.
I'm so excited to be speaking with you about women's heart health and
how to choose a cardiologist.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (03:48):
Thank you so much for inviting me to spend some time with you.
Sandra (03:52):
Despite increase in awareness over the past decades, only about half
of women
recognize
that heart disease is their number one killer. Another survey showed
that only one in five African-American woman believe that they are at
high risk of heart disease.
(04:15):
Do you think that women still see cardiac disease as a man's disease?
Dr. Cacciabaudo (04:21):
I do and I think the medical community, to a certain degree,
feels the same way. The Framingham heart study, which was started and
the first round of data came out in the 1960s, really did make it
about a man's problem.
(04:43):
The early studies that are a precursor to what we just mentioned, by
the CDC, one in five women,
all women didn't even recognize that heart disease was a health threat
and so organizations, like the American Heart Association started, the
Go Red For Women movement and I thank you for wearing red to honor
(05:06):
that. That was a 20-year journey to today,
we're finally seeing women recognize their risk and actually showing
the value of preventive strategies.
Sandra (05:21):
And this is a great segue into my next question.
So Dr. C,
tell me about the difference between males and females as it relates
to heart disease.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (05:33):
So it starts with the way heart attacks happen and that starts with
plaque build-up which actually starts building up when you're in your
teens and then over time depending on your risk factors and your diet
and cholesterol and exercise, the plaque
can become increased and cause blockages men's blockages tend to
(06:00):
load and rupture open.
We call that plaque rupture. Women's tend to erode where the top of
the plaque just starts wearing away.
It does probably account for the symptom differences as well.
So the classic symptoms of heart disease is chest pain, like pressure
(06:21):
on your chest, arm pain,
usually we say going down your left arm up into your jaw, sometimes
into your back.
So these are the classic symptoms, men typically have them and
honestly, most women do too, but then there are the atypical symptoms
which are more subtle.
It is shortness of breath or feeling easily, tired, heartburn or even
(06:47):
headaches.
I always tell my patients that despite your, you know, classic
symptoms or the more atypical symptoms usually associated with that
is an inner voice
inside your body.
That's saying you've never had this before.
Like this is, this is different than anything you've ever had.
(07:08):
You know, you should go get it checked out and you have to listen to
that voice.
The next question, then is who you going to call and that's your
trusted partner in health and hopefully everyone has one.
Sandra (07:22):
So, where should women look for a cardiologist, and should the gender
of the practitioner play a role in their decision?
That is, I'm going to start with the second question,
because it's really timely.
So, the American College of Cardiology just this past, March published
an article where they looked at the outcomes.
(07:45):
So how well blood pressure's controlled? How well cholesterol levels are
lowered?
How less frequently symptoms, go on to be a heart attack?
So women, when they take
women cardiologists, taking care of women patients, do a better job
(08:06):
than men, taking care of women.
But to go to the first part of that question, you know, where to look
here at North Well,
we have this great service, it's called the North Well
Find a Doc and you can Google a name or a Google a ZIP code, or a
city and then say specialty and you can find your
(08:29):
Northwell Health Physician partner doctors who all have star ratings based
on the thoughts and opinions of patients, like real patients
and your comments are there.
And then even our other Physicians that are volunteers here in the
health system are on that site, too.
(08:50):
So it's a great resource to help you pick your your partner because
that's really what it is.
Absolutely.
So, I'd like to follow up with another question.
African-American women are disproportionately affected by heart
disease, leading the debt rate regardless of age, what are some
(09:12):
suggestions for addressing equity in care?
Dr. Cacciabaudo (09:17):
So, it starts with knowing that statistic, which really is a call to
action.
And so it is, I think for women,
us, as, you know, kind of the women in the know, to get out and
spread the word, Empower with education and knowledge, and go into
(09:45):
spaces, which may be a little, you know, a-typical like
partnering with church groups. So finding, you know, black women
African-American women,
where they're most comfortable as opposed to you know the more traditional
(10:06):
spaces like a lecture hall or a luncheon.
It is about knowledge and empowering with the education.
Sandra (10:15):
So it's going where they go to keep them in the know.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (10:18):
Exactly.
Given the differences Dr. C, in men and women, what can Health
Systems do to help tailor treatment for women?
So this really is the Nexus of the Katz Institute for Women's
Health because it's about education and empowering women, but it's
(10:44):
also about understanding the sex differences.
So, you know, women have two X chromosomes men, have an X and a Y
chromosome, and that results in cells that are different.
And so, how do we understand those differences?
How do we modulate, those differences?
How do we impact with different medications?
(11:08):
And, and so, I feel as a health system, Northwell Health has taken
this responsibility
seriously. We have the Katz Institute, we have Physicians who are
credentialed to be members, you know?
There's a process to say you're a Katz Physician, you have to apply,
(11:29):
you have to
be vetted by a committee, and you have to be committed to research,
education, empowerment for Women's Health.
So I think Northwell's on the right path.
Not only are we on the right path.
I think we're leading the path.
(11:49):
We're showing other organizations how to walk the talk.
And, you know, I think many
organizations
look to us.
Sandra (12:02):
Awesome Dr. C
it's been a pleasure speaking with you today and I have to say the
field of Cardiology is really lucky to have someone like you to you
know, influence young ladies and create this social contagion that we
need to get more women into the stem fields and into research, really
a pleasure speaking to you today.
Dr. Cacciabaudo (12:24):
Thank you so much.
I am equally honored to be here.
Get more expert Insight from the leading voices in healthcare today.
You can subscribe to 20-Minute Health Talk wherever podcasts are
available.
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