It’s a common misperception that heart disease mainly plagues men, but in reality, it’s actually the number one cause of death among women, worldwide.
Dr. Kathy Magliato is one of the few female cardiothoracic surgeons in the world.
“No country is immune from heart disease,” says Magliato.
According to The World Heart Federation, heart disease claims 8.6 million women’s lives every year.
“It kills a third of women, worldwide,” adds Magliato. “Combining cancer with T.B. with HIV/AIDS, which we hear about all the time, and malaria, you combine those together and it doesn’t even come close to the number of women dying from heart disease.”
Dr. Kathy Magliato: Heart disease and women - A silent killerCardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Kathy Magliato explains why heart disease is still a silent killer for women and how to prevent it.
Dr. Magliato is also specially trained to perform heart transplants and is currently the director of Women’s Cardiac Services at Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. She is also an author whose recent memoir, Heart Matters, chronicles her career as a female medical pioneer and her commitment to helping women fight – and survive – cardiovascular diseases. In her spare time, Dr. Magliato develops artificial heart devices.
Dr. Kathy Magliato joined May Lee, this week’s guest host, in our Los Angeles studios to provide insight about why heart disease is still a silent killer of millions of women and what preventative measures women can take to decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke.
Follow Dr. Magliato on Twitter: @Dr.KathyMagliato