Heart disease is still the number one killer of women in America. “There’s always been a misperception that women are protected from having heart disease. I tell women that a female smoker is at higher risk as compared to a male smoker. And for a diabetic female that smokes, the risk is actually probably higher than a male counterpart,” says Oyidie Igbokidi, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at CHI St. Vincent. “Most people have the classic symptoms – chest discomfort, difficulty breathing with activity, leg swelling, excessive fatigue. If the symptoms are severe when you are experiencing them, you should definitely call 911.”

Learn more about heart care at CHI St. Vincent.