Women's Heart and Vascular Programs
Heart disease is the No.1 killer of women.
The statistics are staggering. More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. If you smoke or take oral contraception, the risk is even higher.
At OhioHealth, we have a goal to drastically reduce those numbers. We have implemented a system-wide program focused on helping women understand and lower their risk factors for heart disease. Our cardiologists work in collaboration with their primary care physicians and/or OB-GYNs for the most comprehensive care.
Prevention Programs for Women
We apply research-based guidelines for preventing and managing heart disease and stroke in women. Some of our initiatives include:
Pregnancy Predicts Risk Program
This program is designed to reduce future heart disease risk in women who experience hypertension (high blood pressure), preeclampsia and diabetes during pregnancy.
Emergent Care
We educate EMS and Emergency Department (ED) teams throughout the region about how a heart attack presents differently in women and have defined protocols for when to administer an electrocardiogram (EKG).
Peripheral Arterial Disease
We work to educate the community and primary care physicians about the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is underdiagnosed and undertreated in women.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
We’re driving awareness of the advantages of cardiac rehabilitation — not only for women, but men, too — as an effective, but underutilized, way to reduce their risk for another heart attack.