Heart study may save young women

NORFOLK,Va. (WAVY) - You can really learn a lot just by watching someone.

Doctors at Sentara Health Systems are hoping it can one day save lives. They are participating in a first-of-its-kind, nationwide study of women heart attack patients under 55.

It will take a look at this rare group that is twice as likely to die in the hospital as men or older women.

Dr. John Brush, a cardiologist with Sentara said, "Its a little bit like astronomy. You're looking at what happens around you and making observations and conclusions based on that."

Dr.Brush explained that until now much of what doctors know about heart attacks and treatment is based on men. The new study on women under 55 will allow doctors to see the bigger picture.

"We're hoping that observations emerge where we go 'Oh my gosh, look at this, this is really important.' We should change what we do based on this observation," he said.

Deanna Wilson, 45, of Chesapeake is taking part in the study. She made an observation after her own heart attack in August, that could explain why so many younger women die.

"Their survival rate is probably less because they don't know what's going on."

Her advice to other women is to listen to your intuition. If it doesn't feel right, get help, because you never know.

"I want to know answers to as to why, not just for myself but I have a young daughter," she said,

Deanna says if this study can save her daughter or anyone else, she doesn't mind being watched.

Yale University is the lead institution on this study called VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients).

It will follow 2,000 and 1,000 men, for comparison, over the next several years.