The Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program is a comprehensive program offering state-of-the-art cardiovascular health care for women, education services and studies on women's heart health issues. Directed by Amparo C. Villablanca, M.D., Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, the program is staffed by a comprehensive team of physicians and nurses at the UC Davis Medical Center.

The cornerstone of the program is the Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Clinic, which provides dedicated care for women who are at risk for or have heart disease. Physicians and nurse specialists employ a multidisciplinary approach that emphasizes preventive measures and attention to heart issues unique to women.

Because heart disease can be related to a variety of hereditary, lifestyle and environmental factors, the Clinic offers a wide range of preventive, diagnostic, risk assessment, treatment, educational and referral services, including:

• Specialty cardiovascular medicine
• Primary care in women's health
• Risk factor analysis and intervention, including diagnosis and treatment of lipid disorders
• Gynecological evaluation and screening; mammography, pap smears
• Dietary intervention, smoking cessation, exercise training and stress reduction
• Patient teaching and educational sessions
• Women's mental health services
• Participation in women's cardiovascular research studies at UC Davis

A variety of cardiac conditions can signal heart disease in women, including:

• Coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction - heart attack; angina - cardiac chest pain; and sudden death)
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Congenital heart disease (heart disease problem a woman is born with)
• Valvular heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves)
• Hypertension or stroke (high blood pressure or "brain attack")
• Heart disease during or following pregnancy
• Congestive heart failure
• Chest pain associated with panic or anxiety disorders or depression
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
• Spasm of the heart arteries (Prinzmetal's Angina) and micro-vascular angina

All of these conditions are treatable, and with the proper medical managment, can be detected early or prevented.

Cardiovascular Disease: The Silent Enemy
Ways in Which Heart Disease May Affect Women
Early Warning Signs of Heart Disease and Stroke
Low sodium, Exercise and Action Steps