Dedicated women’s heart care for a lifetime

The Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program is focused on recognizing sex and gender differences in cardiovascular disease over a lifetime, particularly the impact of sex-specific risk enhancers that affect women at different stages of their lives. Our multidisciplinary team works to detect these risks early, address them effectively, and provide specialized treatment for heart conditions that affect women most.

“Women should know their specific heart disease risks. That includes traditional risk factors as well as sex-specific risks,” said Garima Sharma, MD, Director of Cardio-Obstetrics and Director of Cardiovascular Women’s Health at Inova. “These unique risk factors can significantly impact a woman’s heart health over time, increasing the chances of heart disease in the future.”

The Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program brings together a broad team of women’s health experts and has developed specific care pathways to optimize women’s heart care for:

• Pregnant patients with established cardiac disease or a family history of cardiac disease
• Patients who have had a poor cardiovascular outcome during pregnancy
• Postpartum patients who need to optimize their cardiovascular risks going forward
• Patients who have had early heart attacks or a lot of chest pain
• Patients in menopause transition, to ensure their risk factors are addressed

Pregnancy-related risks and risks related to reproductive system conditions

In younger women, conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, infertility and premature menopause (defined as onset of menopause before age 45) are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

During pregnancy, additional conditions increase a woman’s risk of developing future cardiovascular disease including:

• Preeclampsia
• Giving birth to a small for gestational age infant
• Gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure during pregnancy
• Preterm birth

With dedicated cardio-obstetrics expertise, our team helps manage cardiac risks before and during pregnancy. We also focus on postpartum cardiovascular health optimization to assist women who have experienced the onset of one or more sex-specific risk factors during pregnancy.

Perimenopause and menopause

Menopause, which typically happens between the ages of 51 and 56, and perimenopause, which begins seven to 10 years before menopause, represent another key timeframe for cardiovascular disease risk in women. During this transition, a woman’s estrogen levels decrease significantly, a decline that is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk comprised of:

• Increases in cholesterol, body fat and body circumference
• Loss of muscle and bone mass
• Cognitive changes, which may induce depression

These risk factors are also associated with suboptimal health outcomes. Our specialized menopause and midlife services help women gain access to hormone replacement therapy and work to address their cardiac risks, particularly cardiometabolic risk and obesity-related risk factors, to optimize their health.

Cancer history

Women experience heightened risks for various heart conditions during and after cancer treatment, which is why our team collaborates closely with Inova’s robust cardio-oncology expertise.

“Because of excellent cancer survivorship overall, many women with a history of cancer have a full life expectancy,” said Ana Barac, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, D’Aniello Chair, Cardio-Oncology, Inova Schar Cancer and Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. “Our program looks at the long term effects of cancer treatment and their potential synergistic effect with heart risk factors.”

A key focus of our cardio-oncology care monitors for cardiotoxicity during treatment. It also looks more broadly at exercise tolerance, cardiometabolic syndrome and other factors that may indicate long term effects of cancer treatment on the heart.

Multidisciplinary program excellence

Inova Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program recently received two American Heart Association grants to address hypertension inequities and hypertension in women of reproductive age. Our program proudly hosts one of the nation’s few fellowships dedicated to women’s cardiovascular health.. We’re also partnering with Mass General Brigham and Harvard School of Medicine to launch the first Young Investigator Award for trainees interested in women’s cardiovascular health – the only nationwide award of its kind – with the first award cycle in 2025.

A team of experts focused on women’s heart health

If you are concerned about managing your risk factors, the Inova Women’s Cardiology Program is here to help. Call 571-472-2932 to schedule a cardiology consultation or visit our webpage to learn more about our award-winning team of heart specialists.