LOS ANGELES (February 16, 2024) — After studying decades of research advances, experts at Cedars-Sinai’s Smit Heart Institute say medical science has yet to fully understand how heart disease differs in women. He said there is still a long way to go before this is understood. than men.

However, Natalie Bello, MD, MPH, director of hypertension research in the Department of Cardiology, and colleague Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, Erica J. Glaser Professor of Women’s Cardiovascular Health and Population Sciences, recently published He says there is hope.Magazine outlook article circulation research.

This paper reviews women’s cardiovascular health over the past century and looks at the many advances occurring in this field.Bello talked to him. Cedars-Sinai Newsroom To share more.

What do women need to know about cardiovascular health?

Although heart disease is the number one cause of death for women, research shows that women tend to think they are more likely to die from cancer, especially breast cancer. The most important thing to remember is that more women die from heart disease than from all types of cancer combined.

Are some women at higher risk than others?

Almost 20% of pregnant women experience complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, which have important implications for their future heart health. These conditions are associated with an increased incidence of heart disease, which often occurs early in life.

What progress has been made?

Thanks to pioneers like C. Noel Bailey Mertz, M.D., director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Smit Heart Institute, the medical community is now active in advancing the research and care of women’s heart disease. is involved in Her leadership in this field has expanded awareness of gender differences in heart attack symptoms and the diagnosis of small vessel heart disease.

Can you give an example of how increased research into women’s cardiovascular health has led to improved treatments for women?

There is now a blood test developed by Cedars-Sinai researchers and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can be used to understand a woman’s risk for preeclampsia. This helps pregnant women know when it is safe to go home or if they need to stay in the hospital for close monitoring, treatment, or early delivery. I use it very often.

This is just one of many examples of how Cedars-Sinai is leading the way in women’s heart health.

When should women think about their cardiovascular health?

At age 20, women should establish care with their primary care physician and undergo a cardiovascular risk assessment. At a minimum, all women should visit their health care provider annually for a blood pressure check.

What is the best way to prevent cardiovascular disease?

Learn about your own risks and ways to improve your health. That advice is based on the knowledge that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. You can prevent or slow the progression of heart disease by quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and getting enough sleep.

Why has women’s cardiovascular health been neglected?

In a paper published in 1912, Dr. James Herrick and his colleagues explained that heart disease occurs in men. However, they published another paper in 1928 showing that the same thing was happening in women. For some reason, subsequent studies failed to gain traction, which led to heart disease being seen as a men’s problem.

Early epidemiological studies also show that women develop heart disease later than men. Noting that women’s risk appears to increase after menopause, estrogen was thought to be protective, and the risk of heart disease in premenopausal women was thought to be low. We now know that social issues and customs at the time also influenced risk. Men are more likely to smoke, and women only started smoking socially in the second half of the last century. Unfortunately, as smoking became more socially acceptable for women, the result was an increase in heart disease among women.

I think one of the main reasons why women’s cardiovascular health wasn’t really investigated was that there wasn’t as much diversity in science and medicine at the time. Unless you have experienced something, you won’t know what questions to ask. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but a bunch of men sitting around a table aren’t necessarily going to ask each other, “How does excessive menstrual bleeding affect my risk of heart disease?” . I decided to investigate this through research.

What can non-scientific women do to help the health care system meet their needs?

People outside the scientific community often remind us that we need to investigate specific issues in women’s health. This consultation is often aimed at people who have experienced something during their own pregnancies or heart health journeys, who have started a foundation or lobbied their elected officials to increase funding for women’s research. Sent from a patient who has. It is also important that women feel empowered to discuss their concerns with their doctors. If you don’t feel heard, you need to find someone else who will listen to your symptoms and address them appropriately.

Read more from the Cedars-Sinai blog: Hypertension: How to recognize and treat high blood pressure