Mary Smith from Miles City, Montana works with Intermountain caregivers to recover while helping others to recognize heart disease symptoms, especially in women.
(PRUnderground) February 22nd, 2025
A Miles City, Montana woman gives a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing heart disease symptoms, especially in women, and the critical role of timely medical intervention.
Mary Smith, 74, never imagined that a series of seemingly mild symptoms would lead to a life-changing heart health event. “I had a couple of warning signs, but I didn’t recognize them as such because of my age,” Smith said. “I thought maybe I was just slowing down.”
Smith shared that for months she hadn’t had the stamina and energy to do normal household chores.
Smith’s more acute symptoms began with what she thought was indigestion and pain on the right side of her chest. One evening the pain was more intense and persisted until the next morning. It was at that point that Smith knew something was more serious. She went to the emergency room at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City where doctors ran tests and quickly determined she was having a heart attack.
“They said, ‘You’re having a heart attack, and you’re going to get a ride to Billings,’” she recounted.
She was flown by helicopter to Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, where a whirlwind of activity awaited her.
Upon arrival at Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital, Smith was whisked into the cardiac cath lab for immediate treatment.
“It was interesting because you’re not completely under,” she said of the cardiac catheter procedure.
The medical team worked efficiently, inserting a stent into her artery to restore blood flow to her heart. Her husband arrived by car in Billings by the time she had finished the procedure and was waiting for her in the recovery room.
After returning to Miles City, Smith’s recovery continued with the cardiac rehab team at Holy Rosary.
“It helped me an awful lot just to get some strength back,” she said.
The rehab program, combined with nutritional guidance, played a crucial role in her recovery.
“I lost my appetite for a time, but the nutritionist helped me get back on track,” Smith said.
“It is so rewarding to work with patients and help them get stronger and back to living again,” said Pam Hurr, RN, a nurse on the cardiac rehab team at Intermountain Holy Rosary. “Mary was so patient, with the most kind and gentle spirit. She worked extremely hard when she realized that the fatigue she has been feeling wasn’t normal.”
Almost six months later, Smith feels stronger than ever.
“I feel energized and can do normal things again,” she said.
“We were so proud of her and all her hard work,” Hurr said. “We were excited and celebrated when she had a recent echocardiogram, and it showed so much improvement in her heart function.”
Smith’s story and recovery highlight the importance of recognizing heart disease symptoms, especially in women.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for about 1 in every 5 female deaths. Despite its prevalence, many women do not recognize the symptoms, which can differ from those experienced by men.
While chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women, women are more likely to experience other symptoms such as:
- Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or upper stomach pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in one or both arms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Unusual fatigue
- Heartburn or indigestion
Sometimes symptoms can be vague and may occur even when resting or asleep, making them easy to overlook. Physicians recommend that if women are experiencing any symptoms or changes in their health that they reach out to their provider.
“First, and most importantly, is contact your primary care provider and talk openly if you are noticing any changes in your health that may be related to your heart,” said Carine Basmadjian, MD, a cardiologist at Intermountain Holy Rosary Hospital. “Are you unable to do your normal activities without shortness of breath or excessive fatigue? Do you have any new shoulder, back or abdomen pain when you are exerting yourself? If you have a family history of early heart disease, share that information with your provider as well. And if you are having more serious symptoms or pain, call 911.”
As part of American Heart Month in February, Intermountain Health is offering a Healthy Heart Quiz and other information and resources to help you assess your heart health. To take the quiz, go to: https://connect.intermountainhealth.org/heart.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
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