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Dr. Suzanne Sorof
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VIDEO: Dr. Sorof – How Should Women Advocate For Their Hearts?

Dr. Sorof describes how a woman can advocate for herself when speaking with her doctor about heart disease.

Dr. Sorof:
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country. It is much more prevalent than all the other cancers combined, including breast cancer. It is something that women need to be aware of, we need to take charge of. When you go to your primary care doctor, insist on having things performed on you such as obtaining blood work to check your cholesterol levels and making sure you know what those levels are. Being in the know of where you are will help you determine how you can change your own lifestyle in order to be heart healthy.

In addition, at least every five years you should have screening. The first should start when you are at least 40 years old and earlier if you have anybody in your family that has had heart disease or a stroke. Those are genetic factors that predispose you as the offspring of your parents to having these as well. You should insist on having a stress test, especially if you are having any symptoms that you feel are consistent with chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or if you have had a change in any of your functional capacities that concern you.

In addition, you should have at least a good relationship with your doctor that if something should change, even after you’ve had this testing, you can communicate with them that you are not feeling well and something has changed and you need to see them right away. Don’t wait for things to happen, be proactive and prevent. You can prevent this from happening to you and having a heart attack that is left untreated.

About Dr. Sorof, M.D.:
Dr. Suzanne Sorof, M.D., is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiology and Internal Medicine. She earned her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She also completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals Residency Program. Dr. Sorof completed her cardiology fellowship at MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She then completed a fellowship in interventional cardiology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Hospitals in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Sorof has extensive training and experience in all aspects of clinical cardiology as well as cardiac and peripheral intervention.

For More Information On Heart Disease And Banner Health Visit www.BannerHealth.com/BannerHeart