Cardiovascular Care

Women’s Heart Disease

The symptoms and progression of cardiovascular conditions can be very different in women than men. We're here to provide you with in-depth heart and vascular knowledge so you can receive the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Request a Second Opinion Call 513-585-2140

Comprehensive Care for Women’s Heart Conditions

Recognized as the Tri-State’s Heart Hospital

For our comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care, we’ve been named one of the Top 50 heart hospitals in the country.

We’re also recognized as one of the country’s top hospitals for women’s heart care. Our exceptional care for women with cardiovascular disease helped us garner the Women’s Choice Award.

Extensive Services

We take a comprehensive approach to women's heart and vascular health that includes excellent cardiac medical care, education, community outreach, and research.

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A Focus on Women's Distinct Cardiac Needs

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. However, women can have different risk factors and symptoms. Women often require more specialized care to prevent, diagnose, and treat their heart conditions.

Needs

We're here for your heart and vascular needs. Our Women's Heart Center cares for the many aspects of female-focused cardiovascular needs and conditions, including:

Heart conditions that require specialized knowledge of the disease process in women
Prevention for women at high risk of developing heart disease
Pregnancy-related heart health, including pregnancy complicated by a heart condition or high blood pressure and risk assessment for cardiovascular disease after delivery
Pregnancy disorders, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
Cardio-oncology for women with cancer or going through cancer treatments that affect heart health
Early menopause
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus

Programs

Our female focus has fostered the creation of the following programs:

Women’s Heart Center Clinic
Intrapartum and Postpartum Heart Health Program
Preventative Women’s Heart Health Program
MINOCA/INOCA/CMD Program

Diagnostic Procedures

We also offer advanced diagnostic procedures for women’s cardiovascular conditions, including:

Coronary reactivity testing
Advanced cardiac imaging testing

Need a second opinion?

Get peace of mind and reassurance that you are making the right decisions about your or a loved one’s treatment for a heart condition. Second opinions are covered by most insurance plans.

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"Women often have chest pain and even evidence of damage to the heart. But after testing and consults, they’re told they’re fine because there is no obstruction. For women, we must look beyond blocked arteries and examine the health of the smaller vessels—the coronary microvascular system—to correctly diagnose and treat women’s heart disease."

Dr. Odayme Quesada

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Research for Women’s Cardiovascular Diseases

Our strong emphasis on cardiovascular disease in women gives you access to the most effective and cutting-edge treatment options.

Focus of Research Team

Odayme Quesada, MD, an expert in women's cardiovascular disease, leads our research team. Quesada is the recipient of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to pursue landmark research on women's cardiac health and disease at The Christ Hospital's Carl and Edyth Lindner Research Center.

The research team focuses on cardiac diseases that predominantly affect women, including:

Ischemia with No Obstructive Coronary Artery disease (INOCA)
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD)
Coronary Vasospasm
Myocardial Infarction with No Obstructive Coronary Artery disease (MINOCA)
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Broken Heart syndrome)
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular disease

Current Research Studies

Learn more about the active research studies in women's heart disease that need participants.

To determine if you might be a candidate for a research study, you can:

Talk to your doctor and then contact us by one of three ways:
- Email WHCResearch@TheChristHospital.com.
- Call our Women's Heart Center at 513-585-2140.
- Call the Lindner Research Center at: 513-585-1777.

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Education & Resources for Women’s Heart Health

We’re dedicated to providing you with the information and encouragement you need to lower your heart disease risk, detect early warning signs, and receive the highest quality care possible.

Women's Heart Wellness Workshop

This free, monthly workshop is ideal for restoration, healing, and mindfulness.

Experience the holistic benefits of Urban Zen Integrative Therapy, which is a blending of gentle movements, essential oils, restorative yoga poses, Reiki, breath awareness, and guided meditation.

Hosted by Lorraine Becker and the Women's Heart Center
Please bring a towel and / or mat, water, and a positive attitude.

Registration is required due to space constraints.

Women’s Heart Center Facebook Group

Stay engaged with your health by joining our Women's Heart Center Facebook group.

You'll find articles and posts about heart health for women, patient and team member spotlights, heart healthy recipes, and ongoing conversations to answer your heart health questions.

Find our Facebook group and ask to join.

Download the latest issues of our Matters of Her Heart newsletter:

Spring 2025

Summer 2024

Information Sheets

Download the following information sheets to learn about women’s cardiovascular diseases. Please contact your doctor if you have any questions.

INOCA (Ischemia with No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease)

If you have this condition, you’ll experience symptoms that suggest you have significant blockages in the arteries, such as chest tightness, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

In fact, your symptoms are caused by other problems with your arteries, not blockages. People with INOCA are at significantly higher risk for a major adverse cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Diagnosis and treatment can improve symptoms and quality of life.

Learn more about INOCA.

Many patients with INOCA have coronary microvascular disease (CMD), which is a disease of the heart’s tiny arteries. Others have vasospastic disease, which affects the large arteries of the heart.

Learn more about functional coronary angiography (FCA), also referred to as coronary reactivity test (CRT), which is an imaging procedure that helps doctors diagnose both CMD and vasospastic disease.

MINOCA (Myocardial Infarction with No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease)

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

SCAD is an uncommon emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart. SCAD can sometimes lead to a heart attack or sudden heart death.

Between 80% to 90% of SCAD patients are women and 10% to 40% of all heart attacks in women under the age of 50 are due to SCAD. Often, people with SCAD do not have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

Learn more about SCAD and how to recognize the warning signs.

Preeclampsia and Heart Disease

Exercise Can Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease

You can lower your risk for cardiovascular disease by maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes eating right, exercising regularly ,and avoiding tobacco and nicotine products.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as walking) or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity (such as running or swimming), or a combination of both.

Learn more about the heart benefits of exercise.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (AKA Stress Cardiomyopathy or Broken Heart Syndrome)

The Mediterranean Diet and Good Health

A good diet and heart health go hand in hand, which is where the Mediterranean Diet comes in. Traditional Mediterranean diets have high fiber and low saturated fat, which differs from a traditionally American diet.

While it's not low in total fat, the Mediterranean Diet emphasizes healthy fats that don't raise cholesterol levels. Staples of the Mediterranean Diet include fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and many more flavorful options.

Learn more about the Mediterranean Diet and how it connects to your heart health.

Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR-CM)

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Latina Heart Health Awareness

Las enfermedades cardiacas son la primera causa de muerte en los Latinos. Y, el 70 por ciento de los Latinas tienen algun factor de riesgo para desarrollar enfermedades cardíacas. Solo 1 de cada 3 mujeres hispanas es consciente de que las cardiopatías son la causa principal de muerte. The Christ Hospital ha lanzado la Campaña para Motivar el Cuidado del Corazón de las Latinas para educar a las Latinas sobre sus riesgos y como prevenir desarrollar enfermedades cardíacas.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Latinos. And, 70 percent of Latina women have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, only one in three Hispanic women are aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death.

The Christ Hospital’s Latina Heart Health Awareness campaign helps make Latinas aware of their heart-disease risks and how to prevent heart disease from developing.

Hispanic Resources

Visit websites to read articles and watch videos about Hispanic heart health:

Healthy for Good: Infografias

Cardiovascular Disease in Hispanics - National Library of Medicine

Video: Latina Heart Statistics with Odayme Quesada, MD

Video: Latina Heart Disease Prevention with Dr. Canoniero

Video: Signs & Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Latinas with Odayme Quesada, MD

Video: Specific Heart Factors with Odayme Quesada, MD

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Care Team

Medical Director Odayme Quesada, MD and the rest of our care team provide specialized care for women's heart health. We may also refer to other specialists when needed.

Women’s Heart Disease