Ras Al Khaimah: A triple bypass surgery has saved a 32-year-old diabetic Emirati woman.
The case has brought to light incidence of heart disease among women.
Zahra Mahroon was rushed to RAK Hospital, complaining of severe upper backache and shortness of breath. At the time, the patient and her family didn’t realise that she was at risk of a heart attack that could have been fatal.
The doctors discovered that the Emirati newlywed has a maternal history of premature coronary artery disease. Based on the symptoms and diagnostic tests, bypass surgery was performed to treat severe blockages in three of her arteries.
The case sheds light on incidence of heart disease among women who often have atypical symptoms, said Dr Ajay Kumar Kanojia, Director of Cardiac Services at the Hospital, who did initial assessment and performed the coronary angiography.
In a media statement, he said, “Heart disease or heart attack symptoms in women are so atypical that it becomes difficult to recognise. These are more subtle than the obvious crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks in men.
“Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain. These symptoms include neck, shoulder, and upper back or abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, sweating, light headedness, dizziness or unusual fatigue.”
Commenting on Zahra’s case, Dr Kanojia said that the patient experienced backache and shortness of breath a couple of times earlier, which she treated with analgesics and felt better, but this time the pain was severe, rushing her to emergency.
He said, diabetes and smoking are strong predictors of heart problems in both genders, but the risk is two to four-folds greater in women.
Zahra added, “I am so thankful to Allah for having given me this second life, I got married just eight months ago and was looking forward to spending a beautiful life with my husband but my condition presented a difficult challenge. Going through such a major surgery was not an easy task but am very thankful to the highly skilled, encouraging and understanding team of doctors at RAK Hospital.”
