Cardiovascular diseases affect both women and men. However, some risk factors, medical conditions, and symptoms manifest differently in women. Our specialist, Carolin Lerchenmüller, answers frequently asked questions about women's heart health and preventive cardiology.
I feel healthy. Why should I still be concerned about my heart health?
Many risk factors do not cause any symptoms for a long time. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. That is why prevention plays an important role.
For women, life events also provide important clues about future cardiovascular risk. These include pregnancy, hormonal changes, and menopause. The goal is not to perform a cardiac examination on every healthy woman. It is important to identify women at increased risk early on.
My pregnancy was many years ago. Is it still relevant to my heart today?
Yes. Pregnancy can provide important insights into long-term heart health. Pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy complications are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
Therefore, even years later, this information remains part of the patient’s medical history. They do not mean that a woman will inevitably develop heart disease later in life. However, they help identify risk factors early on and take timely action.
What does menopause have to do with the heart?
Menopause is a good time to take a fresh look at your heart health. Hormonal changes affect, among other things, blood pressure, fat metabolism, and body composition. This can increase cardiovascular risk.
The overall picture is important for the assessment. These include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, and physical activity. Family history, previous pregnancies, hormonal factors, and other medical conditions also play a role. On this basis, an individualized prevention strategy can be developed.
Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeats: Is It Just Hormonal?
Many women experience heart palpitations, a racing heart, or an irregular heartbeat during pregnancy or around the time of menopause. Hormonal changes may play a role in this.
However, symptoms should not automatically be attributed to hormones. Heart rhythm disturbances are often harmless. If you experience recurring symptoms, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or severe palpitations, a more thorough evaluation may be advisable.
I have chest pain. The major coronary arteries are unremarkable. Could it still be the heart?
Yes. Women can also develop heart disease in which the major coronary arteries are not classically narrowed. These include dysfunction of the small heart vessels or coronary spasms.
Spontaneous coronary dissection and Takotsubo syndrome are also more common in women. Recurrent or persistent symptoms should therefore be taken seriously, even if an initial examination did not reveal any significant narrowing of the major coronary arteries.
When is the Women’s Heart Clinic the right place to go?
The Women’s Heart Clinic is designed for women with cardiovascular problems or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. She is also a point of contact for questions about prevention or when gender-specific factors may be involved.
6 Questions About the Women’s Heart ClinicThese include, for example, risk factors related to menopause, a history of pregnancy complications, cardiac arrhythmias, certain forms of coronary heart disease, heart failure, or cardiological issues associated with autoimmune diseases.
At the USZ, specialists from various disciplines work closely together. These include, among others, gynecology, obstetrics, endocrinology, neurology, angiology, and rheumatology. The goal is to take biological and gender-specific factors into account where they are relevant to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
