The conversation around women’s health is evolving, with topics like periods, pregnancy, and menopause moving from taboo to mainstream. However, clinicians and health systems are still catching up, often failing to connect these experiences with cardiovascular health. A woman might see multiple specialists for different concerns, irregular periods, depression, or high blood pressure, but without a unified approach, critical links between these issues and long-term heart health are missed.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women, yet awareness remains low. A 2019 survey by the American Heart Association found that fewer than half of women knew heart disease was the top killer. To address this, the American Heart Association, along with other medical organizations, has introduced a new framework for cardiovascular health in girls and women. This framework, published in the journal Circulation, includes the Female Life Stage tool, clinical guidance, and recommendations for coordinated care across a woman’s lifetime.
The framework highlights how life events like pregnancy and menopause can reveal cardiovascular risks. For example, pregnancy can act as a natural stress test, with complications like preeclampsia indicating higher risk. Similarly, early menopause (before age 40) is linked to a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease. The framework also emphasizes the importance of mental health, as conditions like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and mood symptoms during menopause can impact cardiovascular well-being.
To implement this framework effectively, health systems must adapt. The authors draw inspiration from Vienna’s urban planning, which incorporated women’s everyday needs after an art exhibition highlighted their experiences. Similarly, healthcare should be redesigned to address barriers, bias, and discrimination that contribute to delays in care. While progress is being made, such as President Trump’s executive order to create a new division for women’s health at the NIH, funding and research remain underfunded. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign and upcoming documentaries like “HORMONAL!” are part of a broader movement to improve women’s cardiovascular health.