Keeping Your Heart in Rhythm
Bindi Shah, MD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Lankenau Heart Institute, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. She has a focus on arrhythmia device implantation, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Here, she explains the unique factors women should understand about arrhythmias.
›› What are the different types of arrhythmias, and how do their symptoms and treatments vary between men and women?
There are many different types of arrhythmias, and there is a wide variety of symptoms and treatments for each arrhythmia. Some are dangerous and life threatening, but others are not. Some arrhythmias may be more prevalent in one gender, but they generally occur in both men and women. Symptoms can also vary by gender, but generally men and women will feel similar symptoms of the same arrhythmia.
›› Why is it important for women to seek evaluation for symptoms like a racing heartbeat, and how do gender disparities in diagnosis affect care?
Many of the symptoms can be similar to the symptoms people experience with anxiety, including a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Unfortunately, women have a higher rate of being misdiagnosed with anxiety when they have an arrhythmia, so it is important for women to contact their physician and get appropriately evaluated when they have these symptoms. Health care professionals are recognizing these gender inequities in care and working to eliminate them, but unfortunately, they still do occur in some areas of the country.
›› Devices like pacemakers and ICDs are lifesaving, but are there any specific considerations for women when it comes to these devices?
Some women who need implantable devices are concerned that they will be uncomfortable or aesthetically unpleasant and visible to others. It is important to discuss these concerns with your physician because we have many techniques to implant these devices in a way that can be comfortable and hidden under clothing. Most of these devices will not negatively affect the daily life of patients, and in many cases, it will improve how the patient feels overall.
›› Why is it important for more women to get involved in clinical trials? Throughout most areas of medicine, clinical trials have historically not enrolled enough women and minorities. This means that the scientific understanding of disease and treatment is mostly based on what we have learned from men. We know that women respond to some treatments differently than men, so if we want to treat each patient in the best possible way, we must tailor our treatments. The only way we can learn how to better treat women is if they are enrolled in these trials.
›› What advice would you give to women who may be experiencing heart rhythm issues?
I would recommend that women who are experiencing symptoms of an arrhythmia understand that there are tools for diagnosis and excellent treatments available. They should trust their bodies and advocate for themselves by speaking with their physician and getting to the appropriate cardiologist if needed.