STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In view of increasing cardiac morbidity and mortality in women on unprecedented scale and minimalistic access to cardiac care setups in most of regions Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma in collaboration with Tawi Welfare Society held a day long cardiac awareness cum health check up camp at Sure Chak area of Jammu in which particular focus on cardiac issues of women particularly younger age group and educated them about the healthy heart lifestyle for better future of coming generations and reduce both social and economic burden.
While interacting with the people Dr Sushil Stated that Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet research and clinical care often fail to adequately address sex-specific differences in symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Historically, heart disease has been perceived as a predominantly male condition, leading to disparities in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for women. The reasons behind suboptimal cardiac care in women, its consequences, and possible solutions to bridge the gender gap in cardiovascular health. One of the primary reasons for suboptimal cardiac care in women is the persistent gender bias in medical research and clinical practice. Many clinical trials on heart disease have historically focused on men, resulting in diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines that do not fully account for sex-specific variations. Women often experience different symptoms of heart disease than men; for instance, they may present with nausea, fatigue, or back pain instead of the classic chest pain commonly associated with heart attacks. These atypical symptoms can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment, increasing the risk of severe complications or death. He elaborated that studies have shown that women are less likely to receive timely interventions such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery compared to men. They are also prescribed life-saving medications like aspirin, statins, and beta-blockers at lower rates. Such disparities contribute to poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates among women with CVD. Several factors contribute to the suboptimal cardiac care women receive, including Lack of Awareness, Both healthcare providers and the general public often underestimate the risk of heart disease in women. Many women are more concerned about conditions like breast cancer, despite heart disease being a leading cause of death. Women tend to delay seeking medical help due to caregiving responsibilities, underestimating their symptoms, or fear of being dismissed by healthcare professionals. Women remain underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to gaps in understanding how cardiovascular disease affects them differently from men. Women from low-income backgrounds or racial minorities face additional barriers such as limited healthcare access, financial constraints, and systemic biases in healthcare settings.
He added that To address these disparities, several steps must be taken, Public health campaigns should emphasize that heart disease is a major threat to women’s health. Additionally, medical professionals need better training to recognize sex-specific symptoms. Routine screening for cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes should be promoted among women. Healthcare providers must adopt a gender-sensitive approach in diagnosing and treating heart disease, ensuring women receive the same level of care as men. Greater efforts should be made to include women in clinical trials to develop treatment guidelines that reflect their unique physiological differences, He Said
Dr Sushil Sharma while addressing the gathering laid stress that Women face unique challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, leading to delayed interventions and poorer outcomes. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and society as a whole. By increasing awareness, promoting gender-inclusive research, and ensuring equitable treatment, we can bridge the gap and improve cardiovascular health outcomes for women, He added.
Management Committee of Tawi Welfare Society Jammu Kavi Raj , Yash Paul , Surinder Gupta , Nand kishore and Amarjeet kour ( Ex Sarpanch) appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for accepting their request and conducted cardiac awareness cum health check up camp in their premises and shows their heartfelt gratitude.
Others who were part of this camp includes Dr Vijay Kumar Sharma ( BMO Sohanjana ) , Dr Venkatesh Yellupu, Dr Dhaneshwer Kapoor .Paramedics and volunteers includes Kamal Sharma , Raghav Rajput, Ranjeet Singh , Rajkumar , Rohit Nayyar, Makhan Sharma , Rahul Vaid , Maninder Singh, Shubham Sharma , Gourav Sharma and Vikas kumar.