Information for Women about Cardiovascular Disease

Although breast cancer has been widely perceived as a woman's most feared health enemy, more women in the U.S. die of heart disease than of all cancers combined. Heart disease in women is largely under-recognized; typically, a woman is older than a man when she exhibits symptoms, which are often more subtle, making detection and diagnosis difficult. As a result, cardiovascular disease in women is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, and many women fail to receive interventions that could save their lives.

The key to reversing this trend lies in preventing the risk factors that contribute to heart disease — and increasing awareness of new therapies which can lower the incidence of the disease.

The UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program strives to enhance awareness of the importance of women's heart health among patients, healthcare providers and policymakers through a variety of educational tools, seminars, classes and events. Information is available on nutrition, hormone replacement therapy, hypertension, risk factors, exercise, medications, osteoporosis prevention and more. Individual teaching sessions, written materials, brochures and educational videos are also available.