Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease - December 1st.

NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 7:13 pm

DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S HEART CENTER AT THE CEDARS-SINAI HEART INSTITUTE AT TEDXWOMEN CONFERENCE.

Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease.

C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, will address thousands of women attending more than 100 TEDxWomen events around the world during the TEDWomen conference on Thursday, Dec. 1. Barbra Streisand -- the legendary actress, singer and women’s advocate -- is scheduled to introduce Bairey Merz, director of the Women’s Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. Bairey Merz will discuss how the mentorship of women physicians inspired her to focus on uncovering gender differences in symptoms and treatment of heart disease and why women should push for more research. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide and often is misdiagnosed in women.

WHAT:
Barbra Streisand will introduce C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, who will address the TEDWomen Conference, a bi-coastal live webcast of presentations about leading-edge ideas for women. The conference is produced and curated by the Paley Center for Media and hosted by Pat Mitchell. Presentations will be live-streamed via the Internet to more than 100 TEDx Women events around the globe.

WHEN:
Dr. Bairey Merz is scheduled to speak around 11:15 am PST on Thursday, Dec. 1.

WHERE:
The day’s events may be viewed via live stream at http://www.livestream.com/tedxwomen.

To participate in the conversation via Twitter, use hashtag: #TEDxWomen.

WHO:
Bairey Merz, director of the Women’s Heart Center of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, is available for interviews. The center provides risk assessment, diagnosis and heart disease care at the hospital ranked among the top 15 in the nation for Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News and World Report. The center is designed to help women reduce their chances of heart disease through a preventive approach, including state-of-the-art testing.

WOMEN AND HEART DISEASE STATISTICS

 Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death for U.S. women.
 Two out of three American women have at least one risk factor for heart disease.
 One out of two American women will develop heart and vascular disease.
 Twelve times as many women die of heart disease every year as die from breast cancer.
 455,000 American women die of heart disease every year, compared to 410,000 men.
 One-quarter to one-half of women with heart disease experience different symptoms than men typically do. For example, many women experience extreme fatigue and nausea, while men report a tingling feeling in their left arm.

Source: American Heart Association

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Comments for this News article

Re: Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease - December 1st.

Wed, 12/07/2011 - 00:55 — Journey7

Well, regarding this statement:

"It was recognized early on that the female hormonal changes occurring over the monthly cycle and into the menopausal state complicated study of the basic mechanisms underlying the advent and progression of cardiovascular disease. Most studies into basic mechanisms over the last 70 years used male animals to eliminate the female hormonal effects."

Sorry, sir, (or madame), that just doesn't make me feel any better. As someone who has spent my life also working in medicine and healthcare, this "anomaly" that was presenting itself should have been a trigger, a red flag that women's cardiovascular issues may have been a little more complicated. Instead, the situation that they feel "complicated" their research was put aside and ignored. Ignored for what 20-30 years? Why could research have not been done reagarding male AND female cardiovascular disease progression in tandem?

Maybe then, my mother would have known what I look like as an adult, maybe then she could have been there when I got married? Maybe my sister would be alive today and not dead so young. But time marches on, and when you know better you do better right?
Sorry if this sounds a little defensive, but I have lived with the effects of it, and clearly, I guess i'm still not over it.

I would have felt better, had it been said: "We just didn't know, we didn't understand enough about the progression in males vs females"- but to admit that there were "noticeable" red flags that could have alerted researchers that the female hormones and cardiac disease may manifest differently in females, let's follow that lead for a little while
and see where it takes us was ignored and put aside- well, I feel that was research negligence. I mean, after all, aren't females 50% of the population at least?

Re: Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease - December 1st.

Fri, 12/02/2011 - 12:56 — shydog

The history of cardiovascular disease research in the USA is long, complicated, and mostly honorable. Many of the greatest names and accomplishments in American biomedical research are in this field. This history should not be simplified by Ms. Streisand's well-intentioned statements concerning the paucity of research into specifically women's cardiovascular health issues. Originally, there were reasons for the study of males instead of females. It was recognized early on that the female hormonal changes occurring over the monthly cycle and into the menopausal state complicated study of the basic mechanisms underlying the advent and progression of cardiovascular disease. Most studies into basic mechanisms over the last 70 years used male animals to eliminate the female hormonal effects. The same may be true for human research; when many of the early clinical trials were initiated, men made up the vast majority of patients with recognized and symptomatic cardiovascular disease. I don't believe there was a systematic and nefarious attempt by the "boy's club" to avoid the study of women's health issues. This is being corrected as the study of cardiovascular disease evolves.

Re: Barbra Streisand to introduce presentation by MD pioneering discoveries about gender differences in heart disease - December 1st.

Thu, 12/01/2011 - 00:57 — Mike Cruz

That is excellent, Barbra. I'm glad that Dr. Merz is addressing this very important topic.
I am able to save lives because of heart valves that others receive in heart operations.
It would be interesting to discuss the over-the counter supplement called CoQ10, or at least to read about it, later. Our heart and muscles lose that, as people progress in life.
It gives a stronger heartbeat, but not a faster one. It brings energy back to our muscles and heart.