Re: 鈥淩isk factors and Ze French Paradox,鈥� column, Feb. 16.
I admire David Sovka鈥檚 courage in going public about his life-threatening experience in having a heart attack. His recovery gives hope to all of us and I wish him well. My comments in no way diminish those sentiments.
My issue is with the sa国际传媒 editorial staff who chose to publish one man鈥檚 personal essay rather than educate readers with an article on the science of heart disease. As a senior woman in my sixth decade, I would have preferred the latter over meandering existential musings with crass references to sweaty 鈥渦nderpants.鈥�
In my opinion, this editorial choice is just another example of the 鈥渄umbing-down鈥濃�� of mainstream media into a vehicle for entertainment instead of knowledge.
After building up to a crescendo regarding why the French have fewer heart attacks, it was infuriating to get no answer, but just a dismissive platitude: 鈥淗eart attacks are totally unfair.鈥� How is that helpful?
I want to know the reason for this paradox 鈥� maybe it could add some years to my life. Accurate information was woefully lacking in this article. It is simply not true that 鈥渘obody knows why鈥� more women die from heart attacks than men. In fact, the latest studies are pointing to male-dominated research and superior medical care for men as possible reasons for poorer outcomes with women.
When it comes to a topic as serious as heart disease, people deserve facts, not entertainment, from the sa国际传媒.
Doreen Marion Gee
Victoria
