According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is responsible for 1 in 3 female deaths each year. Regrettably, only about half of women are aware of that fact and the grave risk heart disease poses.
“Cardiovascular disease takes the lives of more women than all cancers combined,” said Mount Carmel electrophysiologist Dr. Laura Gravelin. “Unfortunately, women are often unaware of their own risks and of the gender-specific differences in the presentation of heart disease. That’s why, across the population, women are underdiagnosed with heart disease and are less likely to be offered guideline-recommended therapy compared with men.”
The Mount Carmel Women’s Heart Program is working to change that. The program is reimagining women’s cardiovascular care by highlighting and proactively managing the things that are unique and specific to women.
Among the non-traditional risk factors that can be unique to women are autoimmune disease, breast cancer treatment, and pregnancy complications.
“Women can also present differently than men when it comes to heart attacks,” Mount Carmel cardiologist Dr. Amrita Karve added. “By focusing on the whole person, especially on prevention of heart disease, our program is striving to reduce that gender gap in diagnosis and treatment.”
The program seeks to inform and educate women about the seriousness of heart disease, drawing special attention to specific cardiovascular needs, like timely diagnosis and guideline-directed treatment. It also offers preventive care that goes well beyond basic risk factors.
“We work with our patients to understand and account for all the risks that may contribute to heart disease during their lifetime – from obstetric and gynecologic history, cancer history, and hormone replacement therapy to everyday issues like stress and sleep,” said Dr. Gravelin. “We want to empower them in every way possible to take control of their heart health.”
They provide that in-depth care in a warm, inviting, female-friendly environment within the Mount Carmel Heart & Vascular Center that's unlike anything else in the community.
“It’s a place where women can feel safe, comfortable, and heard when talking about their heart, their health, and anything else – without judgement – with an exceptional team of compassionate providers,” said Dr. Karve.
By creating that welcoming, accepting environment, the program’s providers are working to open the lines of communication, improve the patient experience, and permanently change the historically unisex approach to heart care.
And given the growing gravity of heart disease in women, it couldn’t have come soon enough.