Patricia Ramsaroop
Don’t Miss the Signs of Heart Attack in Women
Patty Ramsaroop, a 47-year-old mother who lives in Coral Springs, has a bustling family life with her husband and three children. She also keeps busy running an independent insurance agency she opened a few years ago with her partners.
But her life changed dramatically in July 2024 when she experienced two simultaneous medical emergencies, underscoring the need to prioritize her health.
“Being a mom, I put myself last,” Patty said. “I made sure everyone in my household was up to date on their doctor's appointments and didn’t do the same for myself.”
In the week leading up to her health emergencies, Patty had vague symptoms that were easy to overlook. It started with difficulty sleeping and back pain. Then, she began feeling nauseous and alternated between feeling hot and cold. A few days later, Patty went to an urgent care facility assuming she had a gastrointestinal issue like food poisoning. She was encouraged to keep an eye on her blood pressure, which was low, and to go to an emergency room if it didn’t go up.
Her oldest daughter, Brianna, a medical student, monitored her mother’s blood pressure. When Brianna saw that Patty’s blood pressure was dropping, she took her to the Emergency Department (ED) at Broward Health Coral Springs.
The ED team ran tests that found Patty was experiencing a potentially life-threatening complication from diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis, which released acid called ketones into the body. As they were treating her for this condition, they found she was also having a heart attack.
Mohamed Osman, M.D., medical director of interventional cardiology services at the hospital, did an emergency cardiac catheterization, finding a 99% blockage in one of her arteries. He performed a procedure to open and stent the artery.
“Patty’s blockage was in a very important artery and had the potential to be fatal,” said Dr. Osman. “Fortunately, our team didn’t stop at her first diagnosis, and we were able to treat her heart condition.” While some of Patty’s memories from the hospital are fuzzy, she remembers how comforting everyone was in the cardiac catheterization lab and that the nurses in the intensive care unit were amazing. At her first follow-up appointment a few weeks after her hospitalization, Patty appreciated Dr. Osman’s caring and collaborative approach to care.
“Dr. Osman told me he was going to be my best friend for the next year,” Patty said. “I didn’t feel rushed. We had an in-depth conversation and created a game plan together that wasn’t just putting me on medication for the rest of my life.”
“Patty is doing quite well. Her diabetes is under control and her story is a great example of someone experiencing less commonly known heart attack symptoms that would be easy to miss,” said Dr. Osman. “It shows the importance of knowing all the signs of a potential heart attack, especially for women who are more likely than men to experience symptoms other than chest pain.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart attack symptoms for women can include:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder
- Feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired
Today, Patty encourages other women to be diligent in caring for their own health. "It’s important if we want to be around for our families.”
For more information on Broward Health’s cardiovascular services, please visit Cardiac Care.