Go Red for Women highlights importance of heart health
Cincinnati woman and doctor share their stories
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Updated: 6:23 PM EST Feb 5, 2021
Cincinnati woman and doctor share their stories
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Updated: 6:23 PM EST Feb 5, 2021
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HER DOCTOR IS HELPING HER GET HEART HEALTHY. ALANNA: A SELF-PROCLAIMED HEARTY EATER, DENISE BURTON SAYS SHE’S NEVER BEEN ONE TO MAKE HEALTH A PRIORITY >> I ALWAYS SAID IN MY MIND, I DON’T NEED TO EXERCISE BECAUSE I’M SMALL, BUT THAT DIDN’T TURN OUT TO BE THE CASE. ALANNA: AFTER BEING PLAGUED WITH CHEST PAIN, AND DOCTORS TELLING HER IT’S A NON-CARDIAC ISSUE, SHE SUFFERED A SMALL STROKE LAST APRIL. >> IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT. ALANNA: DR. ODAYME QUESADA IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE WOMEN’S HEART CENTER AT THE CHRIST HOSPITAL. SHE’S DEDICATED HER LIFE’S WORK TO HELPING WOMEN LIKE BURTON, BATTLING THE NUMBER ONE KILL OF WOMEN, HEART DISEASE. IT TAKES MORE LIVES THAN ALL FORMS OF CANCER COMBINED >> THIS IS NOT A TRIVIAL DISEASE. THIS IS A REAL DISEASE THAT ACTUALLY IS LINKED TO WORSE OUTCOMES AND IS MORE COMMON IN WOMEN THAN IN MEN. ALANNA: AFTER A SERIES OF TEST DR. QUESADA DIAGNOSED BURTON WITH MICROVASCULAR HEART DISEASE, AN INOPERABLE SMALL ARTERY HEART DISEASE. BURTON’S TREATMENT PLAN INCLUDES MEDICATIONS, EATING HEALTHY FOODS, AND EXERCISE. >> I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. I CAN MOVE AROUND. I CAN CLIMB UP STEPS WITHOUT STOPPING OR TAKING BREATHS. SO MUCH BETTER. ALANNA: NOT ALL WOMEN ARE AS LUCKY AS BURTON. OFTENTIMES, WOMEN GET OVERLOOKED WHEN IT COMES TO HEART DISEASE. DR. QUESADA SAYS THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR LEAPS IN AWARENESS, THERE’S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DECREASE HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN AND WE IMPROVE OUTCOMES. ALANNA: BURTON SAYS SHE REGRETS HER ACTIONS OF THE PAST, BUT LOOKS FORWARD TO THE FUTURE. SHE SAYS SHE HAS 4 KIDS AND 17 GRANDKIDS WHO LOVE HER, SO SHE’S DOING THIS NOT ONLY FOR HER,