Friday, March 28, 2025
Mount Sinai South Nassau celebrated “Go Red for Women Day” on Feb. 7, when heart disease survivor Anita Rothenberg joined hospital staff members and visitors to promote heart health and prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S., hospital officials said.
The annual event featured a compelling personal story from Rothenberg, 70, of Valley Stream, and expert insights from Dr. Pilar Stevens-Haynes, a cardiologist with Mount Sinai Heart.
A survivor’s story
Rothenberg’s battle with heart disease began unexpectedly in 1993 at age 37, despite leading an active lifestyle as a nursery school teacher and mother of two young sons.
“I wasn’t feeling good for a while, but as we all know as women, we put everything before ourselves,” Rothenberg said.
She described experiencing persistent fatigue and low energy levels but never suspected a heart attack due to the common misconception that pre-menopausal women are less susceptible. Her wake-up call came when she felt extremely ill one day and decided to visit the ER at South Nassau.
“I had to drive them (the boys) to school,” she recalled. “My energy level was not the same, but I never would have thought about a heart attack because it used to be said that prior to menopause, women didn’t get heart attacks. But one day, I just didn’t feel well. I told my husband, and we came into the ER at South Nassau. I was having a heart attack.”
Rothenberg became a long-term patient of a cardiologist affiliated with the hospital, diligently managing her health with medication, diet and exercise for more than three decades.
“It was scary,” Rothenberg’s husband, Robert, said. “I was young myself with kids, and I just I didn’t know what to do — how to handle the kids, how to take care of my life. It was an emotional roller coaster, and it was just so frightening.”
In 2022, Rothenberg faced another frightening health episode when she passed out due to a lack of oxygen to her heart. This led to the discovery of three major blocked arteries that required triple bypass surgery at Mount Sinai Heart in Manhattan.
“I cannot say enough about the institution here — the doctors, the nursing staff, everything that I went through,” Rothenberg expressed.
She was seen by Dr. Athanasios Smyrlis, a board certified cardiologist who specializes in invasive cardiology. He diagnosed Rothenberg with ischemia—a condition that deprives the heart of adequate blood flow caused by a blocked coronary artery—and performed an angiogram, which revealed three blocked arteries.
Rothenberg emphasized the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking medical attention even for subtle symptoms, noting that her experience lacked the classic crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks.
“I just didn’t feel right,” Rothenberg said. “So I’m telling my women friends in their 30s, 40s, and 50s — do what you have to do, don’t question yourself.”
A few days later, Rothenberg was at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in Manhattan for triple bypass surgery performed by cardiovascular surgeon Robin Varghese, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
“I feel like I am grateful because I have a success story, and I want other people to learn from it,” Rothenberg added.
Recognizing symptoms
Dr. Stevens-Haynes addressed the common misconceptions surrounding heart disease symptoms in women.
“The biggest thing that we get in women is usually indigestion or fatigue, and so you’re not really thinking it’s cardiac,” she explained.
The cardiologist highlighted that both men and women can experience atypical symptoms, and the dramatic portrayals of heart attacks on TV often mislead people into underestimating their risk.
Early intervention can significantly improve recovery outcomes, as the heart muscle’s health is directly affected by how quickly treatment is administered. Stevens-Haynes also discussed the increasing prevalence of heart disease in younger populations, attributing it to lifestyle factors and dietary habits.
“We’re seeing younger and younger people present with heart disease,” she said. “It’s no longer a disease of people in their 70s or 80s.”
Preventive measures and community Engagement
Stevens-Haynes stressed the importance of knowing personal and family health history, understanding risk factors, and staying informed about one’s health metrics.
“Know your numbers,” she advised, encouraging regular check-ups and awareness of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
”Our screening tools are so much better,” she said. “Now there are so many advances in imaging. You can really take a look directly at someone’s coronary arteries and see if they have plaque deposits and what’s going on and how best to advise them.”
Mount Sinai’s commitment to women’s cardiac care was also highlighted, with specialized programs focusing on heart health from pre-conception through post-pregnancy, particularly targeting high-risk groups such as minority women.
“While one in every 31 American women dies from breast cancer, one in every three dies of heart disease,” Dana Sanneman, the hospital’s vice president of public affairs, said. “Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease.”
The event is part of a series planned throughout February, with upcoming blood pressure screening events at local libraries. Community members can follow the hospital’s Facebook page for more information and participate in initiatives.
