February was heart health month and the first Friday of the month was Go Red for Women Day. Intermountain Health held an event and unveiled a heart attack survivor’s artwork to raise awareness about heart disease in women which claims the lives of more women annually than all cancers combined. 

Dr. Amanda Donohue, a cardiologist with Intermountain Health said, “We partnered with the American Heart Association to get the word out about Go Red for Women Day. Our main goal is to create awareness around the cardiovascular risk that all women face. One in three women will pass away from a cardiovascular complication this year.”

Donohue talked about modifiable risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Go Red for Women Day is being used to “shed some light on the lesser known ones like autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, gestational disorders of pregnancy and long-term use of hormone replacement therapy,” Donohue said.

“We want to empower women to take charge of their cardiovascular health. It is important at any age and any stage in life,” added Donohue. 

Kimberleigh Collins-Peynaud is an artist and heart attack survivor and her artwork was on display at Intermountain Medical Center. She found comfort and healing through painting after her heart attack and hopes it will help others.

“I had a heart attack in November of 2023. A widowmaker heart attack and that means the left interior descending artery was 90% blocked,” Collins-Peynaud said. “The American Heart Association says that only 12% of widowmaker heart attack survivors survive outside of the hospital.”

Collins-Peynaud was 44, in good health and exercised regularly when she had her heart attack. Her family did have some history of heart disease. “When you feel healthy and relatively young and haven’t been warned of any risks, it just comes out of nowhere. I was walking around with a blocked artery and didn’t even know it.”

“I woke up on Saturday morning, went up for breakfast and my left arm started hurting to the bone and felt like there was pain radiating out of it. I tried to massage it like it was a cramp but that did nothing. That’s when I started thinking, ‘oh this is unfamiliar, this is weird’ and I told my husband I needed to go lay down on the bed and as soon as I did that my whole back felt exactly like the left arm,” Collins-Peynaud said.

“The final symptom felt like someone standing on my sternum and that lasted about 15 minutes and I Googled the symptoms, and I thought there is no way that I am having a heart attack and it appeared on my screen that those are typical symptoms of a heart attack. But I decided that if it happens again I will call the doctor,” Collins-Peynaud added.

Collins-Peynaud tried yoga but things did not improve and by 5 p.m. that day she decided to go to Instacare. “They took an EKG and immediately sent me to the hospital by ambulance," Collins-Peynaud said. “I was scared.” 

For Collins-Peynaud art helped her heal. “I used art to get better. I needed a way to process the shock of what happened to deal with death and why I was lucky to survive.” 

Speaking about her gouache painting called “Why,” Collins-Peynaud explained, “The 12% for example is just a number but I needed to see what that looks like. What does 12% of the population surviving look like?” Only 12% of widowmaker heart attack victims survive.

“There is one drawing which is a pencil drawing of the three symptoms. First my left arm, then my whole back, then the pain on my sternum. I felt that would be very helpful to add to the series because it is a way to connect to other women and people to show that here are three images of what it felt like. So if you feel like this you’ll know to go act faster than I did. Or if a friend or family member says, ‘I have this pain, and I don’t understand it’ hopefully it will get someone to react and say, ‘I saw this image, you should go get this checked out,’” Collins-Peynaud said.

“My symptoms are typical of men’s symptoms. We are all different and they can vary. The more the public can see how different it can be the better it is,” said Collins-Peynaud.

“I created the series called ‘Heartwork’ and the prints are for sale through my website, www.heartwork-art.weebly.com. I will donate a portion of the proceeds to the foundation for the beginning of this women’s heart center,” Collins-Peynaud said. “I have been working with the team here at Intermountain to help get out the word of women’s heart health.” 

Dr. Kent Meredith, a cardiologist with Intermountain Health spoke at the event. “We have learned that when women have a heart attack it is often completely different. It is very common in women to experience a totally different set of symptoms.”

“It is not a pain or pressure but it’s more like burning or discomfort. Some female patients will say, ‘I don’t feel well or I feel weak, tired or have an upset stomach.’ I have heard that 1,000 times in my 25 years of cardiology,” Meredith said and added that many patients think they have stomach flu.

“We consider any symptom between the nose and navel as being a potential heart attack symptom, especially in women," Meredith added. “We encourage you to learn and share with the women in your life.”

Collins-Peynaud’s life was saved by the cardiologists at Intermountain Medical Center and she had a stent placed in her arteries.

She now makes the most of each day. “Do something that makes you feel good for yourself. Do something useful,” Collins-Peynaud said. She hopes that her artwork will help others recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and possibly save a life.