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Singing is as natural to Patty Peterson as breathing.

She grew up singing and it is her life’s passion as well as her livelihood. But there was a time last year when the acclaimed vocalist could barely listen to music, much less sing.

That was in the weeks following a life-threatening cardiac emergency called aortic dissection. It happened on Feb. 12, 2007.

After a busy day that included volunteering at her son’s school, a Pilates class and a rehearsal, Peterson was driving down I-35W. Suddenly she felt a burst in her chest. “Not a twinge--more like a dagger in my heart,” she said.

Early recognition is key
She was able to pull over and call 911 on her cell phone. An ambulance arrived within minutes and rushed her to Abbott Northwestern Hospital. In less than an hour, doctors correctly ruled out a heart attack and determined she had an aortic dissection. 

Aortic dissection is a tearing of the aorta--the largest blood vessel leaving the heart. It is the same condition that took the life of actor John Ritter. People with an enlarged or weakened aorta, often related to chronic high blood pressure or other health conditions, are more susceptible to aortic dissection. Peterson had an aortic valve malformation that weakened her aorta.

Once the tear begins, immediate treatment is needed to prevent it from spreading. An untreated aortic dissection can be fatal, causing severe internal bleeding and interrupting blood flow to key organs. 

“There’s no doubt that Patty’s immediate recognition of a serious problem saved her life,” said David Hurrell, MD, a cardiologist with the Minneapolis Heart Institute®. “You would be amazed at how many people with acute chest pain sit at home and don’t seek help right away.”

Pioneering treatment protocols
Peterson also was fortunate to be taken to Abbott Northwestern, which has pioneered treatment protocols that have created a coordinated and highly efficient response to any cardiac emergency. “Our systems approach to recognizing, evaluating and treating any cardiac emergency, whether heart attack, aortic dissection or other conditions, has been critical to the successful outcomes of our patients,” said Hurrell.

After a CT scan confirmed the diagnosis, Peterson was rushed into surgery, where a graft was sutured into place to repair the aorta.

Then Peterson faced the emotional and physical challenges of recovery. “I was at the point where even putting a dish in the dishwasher was exhausting. For a while, I didn’t even feel like listening to music.”

But as the pain from surgery subsided and she grew stronger, Peterson began walking short distances. “I had to keep talking to myself, reminding myself that I was getting a little better every day,” she said.

Integrative therapies through Abbott Northwestern’s Institute for Health and Healing have also been important in Peterson’s recovery, including acupuncture, nutritional counseling and work with a healing coach.

Peterson continues to be closely monitored by Hurrell and other specialists at the Minneapolis Heart Institute®. In addition to periodic scans to check for any changes in the aorta, “perfect blood pressure control is a must,” said Hurrell.

Nearly six months later, Peterson was back on stage, performing in a benefit concert for the Minneapolis Heart Institute®. Now, in addition to her passion for singing, Peterson is committed to raising awareness about aortic dissection. “This is a topic that needs to be talked about,” she said.

Grab a tape measure and push aside the scale. Recent studies find that body shape rather than weight is a better marker for heart disease risk. Storage of fat in the abdominal area (apple shape) is more dangerous to the heart than fat at the hips (pear shape).

A quick method to assess your body shape is to calculate your waist-to-hip ratio: divide your waist measurement by the hip measurement. Measure the waist just above the navel and the hips at the widest part of the buttocks. 

For example, a woman with a 35-inch waist and 40-inch hips would have a ratio of 35/40 for a .88 waist-to-hip ratio. 

• Waist-to-hip ratio is greater than 0.85, or the
• Waist measurement is greater than 35 inches

Earlier this year, researchers at the National Institute of Health and Harvard School of Public Health reported that women with abdominal fat are at greater risk of dying early from heart disease and cancer. Researchers looked at data from 44,000 women in the Nurses’ Health study. This study is the single largest women’s study investigating the relationship of various lifestyle factors on the health of women. 

Women with a waist size 35 inches or greater were approximately twice as likely to die of heart disease as were women with a waist size less than 28 inches. The waist-to-hip ratio was as strongly associated with risk of early death as the measurement of waist size alone. The large size and duration of the study provides the strongest evidence to date on the health risk of abdominal obesity.

Causing the menace in the middle is visceral or intra-abdominal fat. It is the fat surrounding internal organs, not the fat you can pinch with your hands. Researchers think that visceral fat may secrete more inflammatory molecules that are linked to diseases than other types of fat.

Fat in the middle is a common complaint of women, especially after menopause. The good news is that you can control your body shape and health risk.  Daily exercise combined with balanced, reduced-calorie meals can slim the waistline. In fact, when losing weight, the pounds at the waist are some of the first to go. Specific exercises to strengthen abdominal muscles can firm and further trim the midsection area.

A trimmer waist combined with a healthy lifestyle will not only feel good and look good but more importantly, keep the heart healthier.

Field Greens and Mandarin Orange Salad