Pacemaker provides peace of mind for woman

Editor's note: Leslie Lam won the Mrs. America crown in 2000. Born and raised on O'ahu, she has dealt with premature ventricular contractions for several years. We asked Lam to share how she discovered the heart disease in her family and how she copes with it each day.

By Leslie Lam
Mrs. America 2000

Leslie Lam received a pacemaker implant in 2002, similar to the device she's holding. Lam, who suffers from premature ventricular contractions, says she no longer feels lethargic, and that her quality of life has improved. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser Smart heart tips Take three simple steps to protect your heart: Find out your risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor about how to reduce your risk. Know the signs and symptoms of heart attack that are unique to women. Just one risk factor can increase your chances of developing, or worsening, heart-related problems. The more you have, or the more severe any risk factor is, the greater the possibility of having a heart attack. If you have two or more of these risk factors, make an appointment for a free heart screening today. Major risk factors for heart disease are: Cigarette-smoking. Diabetes. High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol. Lack of physical activity. Being overweight. Family history of heart disease. Early menopause (before age 40). Prior heart attack. Age group: 55 and older for women, 45 and older for men. High levels of stress.

But it wasn't until a few years ago, when my sister and I each discovered we had heart problems, that we were finally able to put the pieces together that our family has been dealing with heart-related health conditions our entire lives.

We had no clue why the women in our family were unexpectedly dying young. We always knew our grandmother had a heart problem, so we assumed she died of a heart attack. My aunts were different. None was really sick; they died in their sleep of some unexplained condition.

In 1998, my sister, Cheri Leong, collapsed over the steering wheel while driving. After she was rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with an arrhythmia called ventricular tachycardia, which is a rapid beating of the lower chambers of the heart. This type of arrhythmia is a leading cause of sudden death in the United States.

Shortly after, my sister was transferred to The Queen's Medical Center, and a defibrillator was implanted in her chest to monitor her heart with electrotherapy.

When it happened, my family and I were in shock. We couldn't believe what was happening to my sister, but the hospital gave us the best advice — they educated all of us about what happened, what to look for, and what our family needed to do, such as take a CPR class.

This is when I began to re-evaluate my health and the fainting spells I had been experiencing since I was about 20. Most of the time, I thought I was just tired or sick and would get right back up.

After Cheri's diagnosis, I decided to get checked and undergo a series of tests ordered by electrophysiologist, (heart rhythm specialist) Dr. Edward N. Shen at Queen's.

I underwent a series of diagnostic tests and procedures, including a Holter monitor test to measure and record my heart rhythm; a treadmill test; an electrocardiogram; and electrophysiology study and a tilt-table test.

Without these tests, my family and I might never have known that we were at risk of heart disease.

I discovered I have premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, which are extra heartbeats in the lower chambers of my heart, including low blood volume.

My heartbeats were too slow, quite the opposite of my sister. My sister's heartbeats sped up so much that it flooded the chamber of her heart and would stop it. Mine would beat so slowly it got down to 30 or 40 beats per minute.

I wish I could say that the overall experience wasn't painful, but it was indeed a difficult time.

I experienced a myriad of emotions including fear, denial, apprehension and even anger. There were moments when I couldn't help but wonder what could I have done to prevent this.

Slowly, it turned into feelings of "I am going to beat this. Show me how and I will do it."

I had a Medtronic Reveal insertable loop recorder implanted in 1998, the first such device used in Hawai'i.

With the device implanted, the next time I fainted — on my driveway — my husband activated the monitoring device to record my heart rhythm. The results showed I needed medication to increase my blood volume.

Coping is a lot easier today.

I was very blessed and fortunate to receive the title of Mrs. America 2000 to represent Hawai'i and the United States.

At the same time, I also was very grateful my heart was being taken care of so I could enjoy the wonderful experience and share it with those around me, especially my family.

In 2002, I received a Medtronic pacemaker implant. It made an immediate impact in my lifestyle. I no longer feel lethargic and my quality of life has been enhanced 100 percent. By the second day, I felt wonderful. I always had flashes of light when I would get up too fast; I thought everybody had that.

Several years ago, my father received a defibrillator and my 14-year-old nephew was diagnosed with an arrhythmia (and a defibrillator was implanted). Again, our family was in a state of disbelief, worry and turmoil.

Once again, we all reached for our faith and sure enough, it brought us through the hardest moments and left us with a strengthened belief in the power of prayer. It also solidified our trust in our healthcare providers. To all, we're eternally grateful and thankful.

The need to understand our heart conditions drove me to learn as much as I could about heart diseases, how to identify signs and how to help myself and family members. I also began volunteering with the Women's Heart Advantage Program at Queen's. My goal is to encourage men and women to understand their health, so they can take control of it and improve it.

With all of the advances in technology combined with heightened awareness, a better lifestyle is definitely just around the bend. Please have faith in your ability to take charge of your future and continue to make memories with your loved ones.

Heart disease kills more women in Hawai'i than all other illnesses, and while nearly 80 percent of Hawai'i women are considered at risk for a first heart attack, only

25 percent perceive heart disease as the greatest threat to their health.

See your doctor or visit the Heart Center at Queen's for a free heart screening.

Women often get fewer heart-trouble warnings

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10 steps to a healthier heart 1. Schedule a check-up with your doctor each year on your birthday. 2. March, step or jog in place for 15 minutes a day as you're watching TV. Increase by five minutes each week, until you reach 30 minutes a day. 3. Take a water bottle wherever you go. 4. Hide unhealthy food. 5. Eat lean to be lean. Choose lean beef, chicken, turkey, fruits, veggies and other low-fat foods. 6. Shake the salt habit to help lower blood pressure. 7. Kick butts. Quit smoking. 8. Be a good loser. Eat 200 to 300 fewer calories each day to lose weight gradually. 9. Don't let a slip get you down. If you miss a workout, overeat or otherwise "mess up," just get back on track. 10. Reward yourself for reaching a goal by doing something you enjoy. Source: American Heart Association

Compare that to breast cancer, which takes the lives of an average of 115 Hawai'i women each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Jocelyn Collado of the American Heart Association in Hawai'i points out that heart disease kills more women than the next leading seven causes combined "and that includes all forms of cancer." And only 13 percent of women consider heart disease their greatest health risk.

But after she gets your attention with those gloomy statistics, she offers a more positive message:

"It's also the most preventable cause of death."

That's because lifestyle choices make a big difference in avoiding high blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. People can quit smoking, get regular exercise and eat a healthier diet.

Collado said women can help themselves a lot by following those familiar guidelines. One reason that advice can be more important for women than men is that women often get few warning signs of heart disease.

Men are warned to watch for an intense pressure in their chest as a troubling symptom. "They talk about the elephant-on-the-chest syndrome," she said.

But women may get very subtle signs that something is wrong, Collado said. "They feel a little nauseous, or some tingling in their arm," she said.

The association is sponsoring a national campaign called "Go Red for Women," designed to make women more aware of what they can do to take control of their health. The campaign reflects the need for growing awareness that — locally and nationwide — cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death by far.

For more information, see www.americanheart.org.