Why choose Ochsner for women's heart care?
The Ochsner Women’s Cardiovascular Team, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, is committed to meeting the unique heart health needs of women. We understand the heart of a woman. Our board-certified cardiologists specialize in preventing and managing heart disease in women at all ages while giving you the tools to take charge of your health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and can affect women at any age. Women often have symptoms that differ from men, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. Some risk factors are also unique to women, such as high blood pressure during pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature menopause. Unlike the classic crushing chest pain men might feel, women’s symptoms are often subtle and may include:
- Pain in the arm and jaw
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pressure
Some women may also experience microvascular dysfunction (a condition where the small blood vessels in the heart don’t work properly) or coronary vasospasm (a sudden tightening or narrowing of the coronary arteries). These conditions impact the smaller blood vessels and often don’t appear on routine stress tests. The Ochsner Women’s Cardiovascular Team utilizes advanced diagnostic tools to detect and address these issues early, ensuring timely and effective care.
We partner with other medical specialties to identify and manage unique risk factors for heart disease and work with our patients to develop a treatment plan to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and recurrent major cardiac events.
