National Wear Red Day: Long Island Woman Opens Up About Close Call With Heart Disease

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Heart disease is the number one killer of women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined.

For "National Wear Red Day," CBS2's Jennifer McLogan brings you the story of a grandmother and retired New York City school teacher who helped save her own heart by paying attention to her unusual symptoms.

The American Heart Association's campaign raises awareness and money for women's heart health research.

Charlotte Balsam, of Floral Park, is celebrating life again after a very close call.

"I was touring with my family, went to Israel for my grandson's bar mitzvah. I was having stomach pains," she said.

She made it home and went to her family doctor.

"And got tested for everything," she said.

Everything, except her heart.

Balsam shared her emotional story Friday at a symposium for women at North Shore University Hospital.

"Everybody's symptoms are different," she said. "We aren't alike."

Heart attack symptoms in women may present differently, often resulting in misdiagnosis and treatment delays.

Balsam decided on her own to see a cardiologist, Dr. Sonia Henry.

"They can have chest pain, but a lot of times women can have back pain, epigastric pain, which simulates heartburn, even nausea and women can experience extreme fatigue," Henry said.

Balsam said if she hadn't been proactive about talking to a doctor about her stomach aches, she "would have had a heart attack."

"No question, my artery was 90 percent blocked," she added.

Cardiovascular disease kills about one woman every 80 seconds, and doctors say about 80 percent of all cardiovascular disease cases may be preventable.

"So the goal is prevention, awareness and prevention. With my patient Charlotte Balsam, we were able to catch these blockages," Henry said.

Following angioplasty and stents, Balsam said simple changes -- like yoga and meditation, exercise and diet, her family and a support group -- have her feeling "back in the pink" again. She said the day after her heart procedure, she felt well enough to host friends for a game of Mahjong.