Women's Heart Health

Specialized Cardiac Care for Women

Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women, leading to one in three deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every 80 seconds. But there’s hope. The American Heart Association estimates that “80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action.” 

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Women have unique cardiovascular risk and symptoms, yet many do not understand what these are. 

Even healthy women are more susceptible than men to conditions like spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and microvascular disease. Several factors can exacerbate a woman’s cardiovascular risk, including: 

Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms in Women

There are differences in the way men and women experience cardiac events. When you think of a heart attack, symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath probably come to mind. But that’s not always the case for women. In fact, many women don’t even realize when they are having a cardiac event. 

Similar to men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain. However, not all women experience this. Women are more likely than men to have other, less obvious symptoms, including: 

• Flu-like symptoms and nausea 
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath 

Specialized Care 

The Women’s Heart Health program at CMC’s New England Heart & Vascular Institute offers unique service specifically for women, with providers focused on women’s unique cardiovascular health needs. Their specialties include:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Dyslipidemia
• Hypertension
• Hypertriglyceridemia
• Microvascular disease
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy (one-year postpartum and no longer breastfeeding)
• Primary prevention
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) 

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