Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet most women are more concerned about breast cancer and other female cancers. Women exhibit different symptoms before and during a heart attack than men, but few recognize the warning signs.

For these reasons, St. John’s in August opened a women’s heart center in St. John’s Hammons Heart Institute. The new heart center educates Ozarks women about heart health with a focus on prevention and is part of St. John’s cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program.

“We see this center as a partnership with our physicians to educate women about heart disease. Women can self-refer to St. John’s Women’s Heart Center, or be referred by their physician,” says the center’s Clinical Coordinator Donna Cannefax, R.N. “We offer risk assessments with instant results. St. John’s Women’s Heart Center staff then discuss the results during one-on-one consultations with patients and make recommendations regarding nutrition, exercise and stress management, then track patients’ outcomes.”

ONE WOMAN’S STORY

Heart patient and St. John’s Safety and Security office secretary Karen Lowry, 50, says her boss, former St. John’s Safety and Security Director Bob Ruff, may have saved her life two years ago by insisting she seek medical attention when she complained of nervousness, sleeplessness and tightness in her chest. She thought she was experiencing anxiety attacks.

“I had no idea I was having heart trouble. I came to work one morning not feeling well. My boss recognized my symptoms and insisted I go to the ER. I had a heart attack during the angiogram,” Lowry says. “If I had been better able to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack, I would have gotten medical attention sooner.”

Women tend to wait significantly longer than men to seek medical attention when suffering a heart attack, which can affect their outcome, Cannefax says.

In addition to one-on-one consultations about heart health, the center offers yoga, wellness classes and heart-healthy cooking demonstrations.

As the clinical coordinator for the new center, Cannefax develops the center’s programs, does community outreach and education and teaches yoga classes.

“This center is a comfortable, nurturing environment, and it isn’t just for older women. Our target age group is women ages 30 to 80. We want to reach working women by providing programs during the evenings and on weekends,” Cannefax says.

TOP HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
EXPERIENCED BY WOMEN

Unusual fatigue (71%)
Sleep disturbance (48%)
Shortness of breath (42%)
Indigestion (39%)
Anxiety (36%)
Heart racing (27%)
Arms weak/heavy (25%)
Shortness of breath (58%)
Weakness (55%)
Unusual fatigue (43%)
Cold sweat (39%)
Dizziness (39%)
Nausea (36%)
Arms weak/heavy (35%)

LOCATION

St. John’s Women’s Heart Center is located at the north entrance of Hammons Heart Institute, under the blue canopy.

For more information, call 417-820-3666 or 1-800-200-9000.

Above: St. John’s staff celebrate the center’s grand opening. Front row from left: St. John’s Vice Presidents Sister Mary Kathryn Slaughter, RSM, Susan Blackard, R.N., and Susanne Miller, R.N., Clinical Coordinator Donna Cannefax, R.N., Secretary Leyla Bristol and Cardiopulmonary Rehab Director Susan Hansen, R.N. Back row: Kelvin VanOsdol, M.D. and Gerald Joseph, M.D.