Wellness Exchange: Health Discussions
Heart Disease: The Silent Killer Targeting Women Worldwide
(upbeat music) - Welcome to Listen2. This is Ted. The news was published on Tuesday, September 24th. Joining us today are Eric and Kate. We're diving into a critical health issue that's been misunderstood for far too long, heart disease and women. A recent report in the journal, "Heart Has Shed Light on This Problem." Eric, Kate, what are your initial thoughts on this? - Well, Ted, it's pretty mind-blowing when you look at the numbers. Over 3.6 million women in the UK are affected by ischemic heart disease and it's killing one in 14 women. That's not just a statistic, that's a tragedy. This whole misconception of heart disease being a man's disease isn't just wrong, it's downright deadly. We're talking about millions of lives at stake here. - I couldn't agree more, Eric. It's absolutely shocking that in 2024, we're still dealing with such dangerous gender biases in healthcare. Women are being under-diagnosed, under-treated, and frankly, ignored. It's not just unacceptable, it's a scandal. We're talking about our mothers, sisters, and daughters here. How many more women need to die before we take this seriously? - The article mentions a discrepancy between men and women in diagnosis and treatment. Eric, what's your take on this? - The facts are crystal clear, Ted. Women are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to heart disease treatment. They're less likely to receive certain treatments or diagnostic tests. This isn't just unfair, it's literally a matter of life and death. We need to address this disparity immediately. It's 2024 for crying out loud. We can't keep treating women like second-class citizens in healthcare. - Hold on, Eric. While I agree it's a massive problem, we can't ignore the systemic issues at play here. It's not just about individual doctors, it's about the entire healthcare system that's-- - That's a bit of an over-simplification, Kate, we can't blame everything on the system. Doctors and healthcare providers need to take responsibility for recognizing and addressing their biases. It's not like there's some grand conspiracy against women. We need to focus on education. - Oh, please, it's not an over-simplification, it's the reality. The system is failing women, and we need systemic changes, not just individual wake-up calls. You're burying your head in the sand if you think this isn't a structural problem. We need to overhaul-- - Let's talk about the symptoms. The article mentions that heart attack symptoms can differ between men and women. Eric, what should people know about this? - It's absolutely crucial to understand that while chest pain is common for both genders, women may experience a whole range of other symptoms. We're talking shortness of breath, nausea, and even back or jaw pain. It's not as straightforward as clutching your chest like in the movies, we need to educate everyone about these differences. It could literally save lives. - Exactly. And let's not forget that women are more likely to ignore their symptoms. This isn't just about biology, it's about societal expectations. Women are often expected to tough it out, or put everyone else's needs before their own. It's this toxic mix of misinformation and social pressure that's putting women at risk. - I agree that education is key, but we shouldn't infantilize women. They're perfectly capable of recognizing serious symptoms if given the right information. We need to empower women with knowledge, not treat them. - That's rich coming from you, Eric. It's not about infantilizing, it's about acknowledging the societal pressures women face. We need to address those too. You can't just throw information at people and expect centuries of conditioning to disappear. - Let's look at this issue from a historical perspective. Can you think of a similar situation where a health condition was misunderstood due to gender biases? - Absolutely, Ted. This whole situation reminds me of the infamous history of hysteria diagnosis in women. For centuries, women were slapped with the hysteria label for a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. It was basically a catch-all diagnosis that often dismissed real medical conditions. It's a perfect example of how gender biases can lead to some seriously messed up medical practices. - I'm surprised you brought that up, Eric, but you're right on the money. Hysteria was the go-to diagnosis for women from ancient times until the early 20th century. It was used to explain everything from anxiety to sexual desire. It's a textbook case of how medical knowledge can be used to control and dismiss women's experiences. - Exactly, Kate. The treatments for hysteria were just as bonkers as the diagnosis. Doctors would prescribe things like pelvic massage or even hysterectomies for hysteria. Can you imagine? It's a perfect example of how gender biases can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. It's scary to think about how many women suffered because of these misconceptions. - And let's not forget that the word hysteria itself comes from the Greek word for uterus. It was literally a female disease that was used to control and dismiss women's health concerns. It's a prime example of how language and medical terminology can be weaponized against women. The parallels to the current heart disease situation are pretty striking when you think about it. - How do you think this historical example relates to the current situation with heart disease in women? - Well, in both cases, we see medical professionals failing to recognize or take seriously women's symptoms. It's a dangerous form of gender bias that persists even today. The hysteria diagnosis shows us how deeply ingrained these biases can be in medical thinking. We might have moved past hysteria, but the heart disease situation shows we still have a long way to go. - I agree, but I think it goes deeper than that. Both cases show how medical knowledge itself has been shaped by male perspectives, leading to gaps in understanding women's health. - That's a bit of a stretch, Kate. Medical knowledge has advanced significantly. We can't compare modern cardiology to 19th century quackery. We're talking about evidence-based medicine here, not so outdated. - It's not a stretch, Eric. The article clearly states that many treatments are mainly investigated in men and then applied to women. That's a direct parallel to how women's health has been historically misunderstood. You're being naive if you think we've completely moved past-- - Fair point, but we need to focus on practical solutions rather than just pointing fingers at historical injustices. We can acknowledge the past without getting stuck there. What matters now-- - And those practical solutions need to address the systemic biases that have been built into medical research and practice over centuries. You can't fix a problem if you don't understand its roots. We need to completely rethink how can women's health-- - How do you think this situation will unfold? Eric, what's your prediction for addressing this issue? - I believe we'll see a push for more gender-specific medical education and research. Medical schools will likely incorporate more training on how diseases present differently in women and men. It's not gonna happen overnight, but I think we're on the cusp of a significant shift in how we approach gender and medicine. We might see new specializations emerge, focusing specifically on women's cardiovascular health. - That's not enough, Eric. - We need a complete overhaul of the medical research system. We should mandate equal representation of women in clinical trials and gender-specific analysis of all medical data. Anything less is just putting a mandate on-- - Slow down there, Kate. Mandates and overhauls sound great, but they're not always practical. We need to focus on incremental changes that can be implemented quickly. Rome wasn't built in a day and we can't completely appreciate-- - Incremental changes? Women are dying, Eric. We need radical action now, not baby steps. Your caution is costing lives. We don't have time for your middle of the road approach. We need to flip the table-- - Interesting perspectives. Now let's consider another potential outcome. How might public awareness campaigns play a role in addressing this issue? - Public awareness is crucial, Ted. I envision large-scale campaigns educating both men and women about the symptoms of heart disease in women. This could lead to earlier detection and treatment. We're talking about billboards, TV ads, social media campaigns, the works. If we can make people as aware of women's heart attack symptoms as they are of, say, breast cancer symptoms, we could save countless lives. - For once, I agree with Eric, but these campaigns need to go beyond just symptoms. They should address the systemic biases in healthcare and empower women to advocate for themselves. We need to teach women to demand proper care and not take its probably just stress for an answer. And we need to educate men, too. They need to know how to recognize these symptoms in their wives, mothers, and daughters. - I'm all for empowerment, Kate, but let's not turn this into a political issue. The focus should be on saving lives, not pushing agendas. We need to stick to the medical facts-- - It's already a political issue, Eric. Healthcare access and research funding are inherently political. We can't separate the two. You're living in a fantasy world and if you think we can address this without tackling-- - We can, if we focus on evidence-based solutions rather than ideology. Let's prioritize what works, regardless of political leanings. We need to put aside our differences-- - And who decides what works, Eric? The same system that's been ignoring women's health for centuries. You're being naive. We need to question everything and rebuild from the ground up. Anything less is just perpetuating the same level. - Well, it's clear this is a complex issue with no easy answers. We've heard some passionate arguments from both Eric and Kate today. While they may disagree on the approach, it's evident that addressing heart disease in women is crucial. Thank you both for your insights. This has been an enlightening discussion on Listen 2.