Women’s Heart Center

Until recently, heart disease was believed to be primarily a condition that affects men. However, once a woman passes menopause, her risk of heart disease equals that of men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country for both men and women, and heart disease claims the lives of more than twice as many women as all forms of cancer combined!

In response to the growing need to get the word out to women about their “1 in 2” risk of dying from heart disease, United Hospital launched a primary prevention program for women. The Women’s Heart Center provides a one-hour, personalized assessment for women of all ages, including a brief health history and a heart health assessment. In addition, the prevention program provides individualized education, counseling and assistance with setting realistic goals.

Body fat measurement

What puts you at risk

A number of factors place you at risk for heart disease. These factors are referred to as “cardiovascular risk factors.” Cardiovascular risk factors are either “nonalterable” (risks you cannot change) or “alterable” (risks you can change):

Nonalterable

age
family history
ethnic background
estrogen loss at menopause

Alterable

smoking
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
obesity
diabetes
sedentary lifestyle
stress
high homocysteine and C-reactive protein (emerging risk factors)

Signs and symptoms in women

The signs and symptoms of heart disease in women may look different than those in men. Men typically complain of crushing left-side (substernal) chest pain, which often radiates to the left arm. Women are more likely to have atypical chest pain that radiates to the jaw, neck, throat, shoulder or back. Other symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, light-headedness and fatigue without chest pain may be more likely to strike women as well.

It is vital to seek prompt medical attention should you or someone you love experience these symptoms. If a heart attack is in process, the earlier certain treatments are started the better the long-term outcome for a woman.

Blood pressure

Health history and heart health assessment

Through the use of a family genogram tool, the clinicians outline a woman’s family history of heart disease. A women’s heart screening tool then helps assess each woman’s cardiovascular risk level. Physical parameters that are assessed and reviewed with each woman include:

heart rate
blood pressure
height and weight
body-mass index
body fat analysis
waist-hip ratio
complete lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, ratio, triglycerides)
fasting blood sugar
homocysteine
C-reactive protein

Weight

One-on-one counseling

Once the history and physical data are gathered, the rest of the appointment is geared to providing information and individualized guidance. The Women’s Heart Disease Prevention Center clinicians help each woman set goals to reduce her cardiovascular risk factors. Follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months provides on-going encouragement and assistance with each woman’s specific goals for achieving a heart healthy lifestyle.

The fee for the personalized assessment is just $95. Gift certificates are also available so you can give the gift of heart health to your female friends and relatives. Appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday. The first appointment is about 15 minutes for a fasting blood draw, and the second appointment is the cardiovascular risk assessment/education portion (about 1 hour). Appointments are held in the third floor Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation area of the Nasseff Heart Center. Please call 651-241-KNOW (5669) to schedule your appointment.

Resource line

The program also provides information to women in the community who have questions about heart disease. Several women have called the center inquiring about whether certain signs/symptoms they are experiencing are concerning and whether they need to see a doctor. Please call Jodi Denker, exercise physiologist, at 651-241-8108 if you have questions or need additional resources.

Program contributions

If you are interested in making a financial contribution to extend this program further into our community, please call the United Hospital Foundation at 651-241-8022. Thank you.

Don’t wait for heart disease to strike first. Call 651-241-KNOW today to schedule your prevention appointment.