Why Choose Ochsner for Women's Heart Care?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in America. The team at Ochsner Women’s Heart Clinic are experts in addressing heart health concerns specific to women. We’re here to empower you to take control of your heart health.
There are differences in heart disease between men and women. Women with heart or cardiac risk factors tend to have more severe heart disease initially. Women may not show the common symptoms of chest pain, such as chest pressure and tingling in the arms. Instead, heart issues and symptoms of a heart attack in women can present in the following ways:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pressure
- Pain in the arm and jaw
- Shortness of breath
Women’s chest pain symptoms may not be due a major blocked coronary (heart) artery. Women can have chest pain that from disease in smaller arterial vessels that do not dilate appropriately. This condition is called microvascular dysfunction or coronary vasospasm. These conditions require sophisticated testing and is not clearly diagnosed on regular stress test.