Michigan’s women’s history emphasizes the serious risks to heart health for women

TROY, Mich. – Friday in February is National Wear Red Day: an annual effort by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about heart risks.

Heart disease is the first person to kill men and women. It is estimated that one in three women lives with some form of cardiovascular disease.

TO READ: #GoRedForWomen: National Wear Red Day raises awareness about heart health

Kristy Sidlar, a resident of Troy, was young and athletic when her first symptom came.

“A lot of people who have the condition I have, their first sign or symptom is sudden death,” Sidlar said. “I was a very fit and very active young woman who taught aerobics when I was 26 years old. I literally fainted in front of my class. “

He said people told him it was probably dehydration or low blood sugar.

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When it happened again, he went to a doctor, was given medication and was told to listen to his body when exercising.

When he turned 31, he began a bike ride as part of training for an upcoming triathlon.

“I felt my heart rate go into that abnormal rhythm and at first it was annoying and then it got really bad,” Sidlar said. “To the point that I was really on the side of the road alone. No one around. That’s when I didn’t have a cell phone with me. “

She said she stayed on the ground for 45 minutes, disappearing and coming out of consciousness, until another cyclist found her and called 911.

Paramedics beat his heart at a normal pace. It beat more than five times the normal heart rate.

“I have arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which essentially means the right side of my heart, instead of looking like a healthy heart muscle, it basically looks like a sponge,” Sidlar said. “The more this disease progresses, the bigger my heart becomes, which allows my heart not to beat effectively.”

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Sidlar now has an implanted defibrillator. He is not able to exercise as he did before, but he has a desire to live, a love of travel and a sense of adventure.

“I’ve probably been in heart failure for five years,” Sidlar said. “Unfortunately, my illness is progressive. So, finally, I will be on the list of heart transplants. “

TO READ: Full coverage of the month of the heart

Sidlar wants women of all ages to understand that heart disease is also their problem.

“It is my passion to be able to help women understand that this is not a disease of men. We have different symptoms, we have to take care of ourselves differently, ”said Sidlar. “Know your family history and know your numbers; those two things are key.”

This includes your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. It also encourages everyone to learn practical CPR

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TO READ: 2 steps to save lives: CPR hands only

If you have any symptoms of heart disease, seek help.

“We really have to be advocates for ourselves and our bodies to make sure that if we know something isn’t working, we’re pushing to get it done,” Sidlar said.

While many women with heart problems experience chest pain or discomfort, there are also many who do not.

Some other red flags are shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain, dizziness or fainting, and unusual fatigue.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, do not ignore them. Seek help.

TO READ: The Detroit Metro doctor encourages people to pay more attention to their heart health

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The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement encourages people to perform throughout the month of February by dressing in red on February 5, donating to the American Heart Association and using #WearRedDay, #HeartMonth and #GoRedForWomen on social media.

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