Heart care personalized for women
When you choose Ascension Texas Cardiovascular - Women’s Heart Center, you get a team of cardiologists experienced in delivering heart care that is personalized for women – from preventive care to managing complex heart conditions and connection to cardiovascular surgeons. Every appointment with your cardiologist starts with a compassionate conversation. And your doctor takes the time to answer all your questions. We deliver care for the whole you – your physical and emotional health, and evaluate how other pregnancy, menopause and other health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, lupus or depression may be affecting your heart. By getting to know you and working together, you get a heart care plan that’s customized to your needs.
No referral is needed to schedule an appointment.
Heart tests for women
At Ascension Texas Cardiovascular, we deliver specialized heart care for women. Some of our diagnostic heart tests are different from the ones we use for men. Your cardiologist may recommend a heart test if you have:
- Risk factors, but no symptoms
- A history of heart disease and symptoms, such as heart flutters, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Your women’s heart care team includes cardiologists, cardiac nurse practitioners, dietitians and women’s health specialists. Using diagnostic cardiac imaging, lab tests and a customized cardiac assessment, your doctor delivers advanced care for conditions that commonly affect women:
- Chronic chest pain
- Diabetes-related heart disease
- Mitral heart valve disease
- Pregnancy-induced heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Multidisciplinary heart care for women
If you need more complex and advanced care for the health of your heart, Ascension Texas is ready with care that is right for you:
- Experienced cardiovascular surgeons and specialists who listen to your needs.
- Care teams that work together with you.
- Leading technologies and advanced treatment options.
- Connecting the dots across our health network.
- Follow-up care and cardiac rehabilitation to get you back to your life.
Advanced heart care during pregnancy and beyond
For women who have new or pre-existing heart symptoms or conditions during pregnancy, including high blood pressure, we provide the advanced perinatal cardiac care you need.
Our specially-trained cardiologists use advanced tests and heart monitoring for mom and baby to help manage you or your baby’s heart condition and help prevent complications in pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. Your heart care team, along with your OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist deliver comprehensive care at any point in your pregnancy, labor and delivery, and as part of your postpartum care.Talk with your OB-GYN, if you are experiencing symptoms and concerns, including labored breathing, chest pain, coughing at night and heart palpitations during your pregnancy.
Heart attack symptoms in women may be subtle
Heart attacks don’t always start with severe chest pain. Talk with your doctor about any symptoms you are having and how to lower your risk factors for a heart attack. Women may have more subtle warning signs when they have a heart attack. Watch for these symptoms:
- Chest discomfort, pressure, or pain
- Difficulty breathing independent of activity
- Lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
- New weakness or fatigue
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden arm (particularly left arm), jaw, neck, back pain
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
Getting the right heart care at the right time can make a difference in a heart emergency. Doctors, nurses and care team teams in our fully staffed ERs work quickly to understand you and deliver care that’s right for you. Find emergency care nearby.
