Go Red for Women Day: Heart attacks not just for men

Friday is the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Day to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women.

More women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.

If you think it couldn’t happen to you ask 51 year-old Debra Ham-Jordan of Florence

She almost died two years ago from a heart attack, even though she was not overweight, exercised regularly, made regular doctor visits and kept a close watch, at least she thought, on her irregular heart beat.

Ham-Jordan started her day on Oct. 9, 2009, just like any other day. She got up in the morning to go for her usual 5-mile walk but quickly found out that her body was trying to tell her that this wasn’t just any other day. As she walked she found herself feeling extraordinarily tired and soon after began to feel short of breath.

At first she thought it was just another sign of menopause but as she kept going she felt worse.

When she finally did make it back home she sat for awhile but had to get ready for a class at Francis Marion University. She hopped in the car to drive herself to class but still didn’t feel quite right and pulled over onto the side of Old Marion Highway and put the car in park.

It was the last thing she remembered before she awoke days later at McLeod Hospital.

Ham-Jordan had gone into cardiac arrest.

Luckily for, her some good Samaritans came to her rescue. They found her slumped over the steering wheel and called 911. She had stopped breathing but the paramedics brought her back to life.

Twice more her heart stopped beating and the prognosis was not good. Her sister was called at work and met the rest of the family at the hospital. They were told told Ham-Jordan might not make it. Doctors were concerned that she had suffered brain damage due to lack of normal heart rhythm.

“We didn’t know what the outcome would be,” younger sister Cheryl Ham-Price said. “It was devastating because we thought she was healthy.”

Doctors suggested they try induced hypothermia -- a procedure to lowering the body’s temperature and help prevent neurological damage.

Her body temperature was kept at 33 degrees Celsius for 40 hours, 16 hours longer than usual, and her family had to wait another 72 hours to determine if the procedure was a success.

During a bedside vigil, Cheryl said, “I got real close to her and told her in her ear ‘I know you’re there. Open that door and come back to me,’ and blink once.”

She did. Doctors thought it might have been a reflex. But then Cheryl asked her to blink twice and she did, opening her eyes in the process.

The American Heart Association reports 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease and only one in six American women believe that heart disease is their greatest health threat.

“I’m more aware of my body now,” Ham-Jordan said. “My body was talking to me but I wasn’t listening. You think you’re healthy and maybe you are but maybe there’s something that’s hidden. Mine was hidden from me.”

As part of Go Red for Women Day, Ham-Jordan will speak to women at the Healthy Red Heart Luncheon today at McLeod Health, all reservations for the free event have been given.

The American Heart Association created Go Red For Women, in 2004, to dispel myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women and to be a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

On national Go Red for Women Day the association asks all people to wear red to raise awareness for women and heart disease.

To find out more go to www.GoRedForWomen.org