7 Healthcast: Women & cardiovascular disease

Now one local hospital is using new technology to take a closer look and diagnose women more effectively.

When Pam Thomas of Plymouth started having chest pain, she went to her doctor hoping to find out what was wrong.

Pam Thomas, suffers from chest pain
"I saw my local physician and had a stress test and all the usual tests, which didn't really show anything."

The pain didn't go away, and soon everyday activities like walking up stairs started to be too much for Pam.

She saw more doctors and specialists, but still no diagnosis.

Cardiologists say diagnosing a heart problem in a woman is very different from a diagnosing a heart problem in a man.

Dr. Jane Leopold, Brigham and Women's Hospital
"That old sort of Hollywood type of heart attack where people report this crushing chest pain in the middle of their chest and then they just sort of pass out, those are symptoms that are more typical in men."

That's why Brigham and Women's is using new technology like this intravascular ultrasound to find cardiovascular disease in women more quickly.

Using images like this, doctors can look at blood vessels from the inside out, finding buildup more effectively.

Dr. Jane Leopold, Brigham and Women's Hospital
"Here in this blood vessel there's a thick rim that looks almost like a rind and this rim actually represents plaque buildup in the artery that wasn't apparent on the coronary angiogram."

This technology helped doctors diagnose Pam with microvascular disease.

She was given medication to treat it and also got the peace of mind she so badly needed.

Pam Thomas, suffers from chest pain
"It was nice to have a diagnosis, to know that you're not crazy, it's not in your head."

Doctors say when it comes to diagnosing cardiovascular disease, some common symptoms found in women include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, back pain or pain in the arms.

If you're experiencing any of these, you should see your doctor.

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