Almost 3 million American women have a history of
myocardial infarction and more than 400,000 are
undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery or
percutaneous coronary interventions each year.1 Yet,
women continue to have more anginal symptoms
and depression than do men after coronary interventions,
with resultant limitations on their activitiesand quality of life.24 Compared to men, women’s
cardiac symptoms, risk factors, and recovery from
acute cardiac events are more likely to result in
adverse outcomes.24Y27 The themes woven throughout
the studies of women with CHD are powerlessness,
role conflict, fear, depression, anxiety, guilt,
denial, and anger.28Y37 Additional themes include
failure to recognize symptoms, lack of emotional
support, and the importance of maintaining their
caregiver and home management roles. Murray
et al37 found that women with CHD had difficulties
recognizing their cardiac symptoms and 35%
reported they were initially misdiagnosed by their
medical provider.