Stanford is a nationally recognized center in cardiovascular medicine and is committed to improving the cardiovascular health of women. We recognize that women are unique and often experience different symptoms of heart disease than men. Evaluation and treatment needs to be specifically tailored for each individual woman. Our mission is to improve the cardiovascular health of women by offering evidence-based, sex-specific, personalized, and comprehensive care including primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
It remains an underappreciated fact that more women than men die of cardiovascular disease every year. Cardiovascular disease takes the life of one out of every two women resulting in ½ million deaths annually. The majority of cardiovascular care that we currently provide is based on evidence that comes from studies done predominately in men. Differences between women and men have been identified throughout the entire spectrum of cardiovascular disease, from risk factors to symptoms, and from diagnosis to treatment and outcomes. Fortunately, there is a growing body of knowledge about women and cardiovascular disease and how they differ from men.
Comprehensive Services
Our comprehensive, sex-specific care is provided by an expert team of health care specialists. Jennifer Tremmel, MD, SM, the Clinical Director of Women’s Heart Health at Stanford and Mary Nejedly, NP-C are the core health care providers, and they are supported by an Internal Referral Network including a dietician, a cardiovascular imaging specialist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, a psychiatrist, an electrophysiologist, a vascular surgeon, an endocrinologist, and a gynecologist.
Risk Assessment
We will start with a thorough evaluation of your risk for cardiovascular disease by performing a complete medical history and cardiac exam. This will become the basis of your unique prevention and treatment plan. Additional tests, such as labs or imaging studies, may be needed to completely understand your risk.
Diagnostic Evaluation
Women with concerning symptoms for cardiovascular disease may require further diagnostic testing, ranging from non-invasive stress testing to a cardiac catheterization. We specialize in the diagnosis of coronary vascular function abnormalities, including endothelial dysfunction and microvascular disease.
Risk Management
Whether or not you are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, managing your cardiovascular risk factors is of utmost importance to prevent progression of your disease or future cardiovascular events. We will help guide you in making healthy lifestyle changes and becoming an active participant in your own cardiovascular health.
Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
We have state-of-the-art therapeutic and surgical services, as well as knowledgeable and skilled clinicians who are dedicated to providing the most up-to-date care in the field of women’s cardiovascular health. You will have a Core Health Care Provider who will treat you or, if necessary, will refer you to one of our designated providers in the Women’s Heart Health Internal Referral Network.
Women may be referred to Women’s Heart Health at Stanford by their physician or may request an appointment on their own.