Women’s cardiology

Ascension Texas Cardiovascular in Austin, Texas, specializes in heart care for women at risk or with cardiovascular disease.

Women's heart health in Austin

Ascension Texas Cardiovascular in Austin, Texas, specializes in heart care for women at risk or with cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease can strike without warning

cardiology

Early detection can save lives. Take our free, 3-minute heart risk assessment today. It could make all the difference.

LEARN YOUR HEART RISK

Why choose us

Cardiologists at Ascension Texas Cardiovascular specialize in providing heart care for women. We diagnose, treat and monitor heart conditions that commonly affect women, such as heart disease, heart attack and chronic chest pain. Our team has additional cardiology training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of women at risk for heart disease.

Symptoms of heart disease in women

Some women may not have any symptoms, while others may experience:

Chest pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Fatigue

Heart disease risk factors for women

Common risk factors for heart disease in women include:

Diabetes
Family history of heart attack and stroke
Inactivity
Menopause
Mental stress and depression
Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia
Smoking

How we manage heart risk factors for women

Since heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, we focus on heart care prevention. Your doctor will create a care plan that helps manage your risk factors. This may include lifestyle changes, medications, and lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Your care team provides blood pressure monitoring to help you better understand your heart health and reduce the risk of severe conditions like heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Whether you're being screened for high blood pressure (hypertension) or managing an existing condition, regular monitoring can keep you healthy. Your heart specialist may recommend doctor visit checks, home blood pressure monitoring or 24-hour blood pressure monitoring.

A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to keep track of how well you are managing a condition, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. You may also have them for routine checkups or when you are ill.

This is also known as a cardiac or heart cath. For this test, your doctor guides a small catheter (hollow tube) through the large artery in your upper leg, or sometimes your wrist or arm, into your heart. This procedure lets your doctor take a close look at the heart to identify concerns and to perform other tests or procedures.

A simple lipid blood test can give your cardiologist important information about your cholesterol levels to personalize your care plan to prevent heart attack, stroke and other heart conditions. A cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel, measures the levels of different types of fats in your blood, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Our cardiology team uses advanced diagnostic tools and expertise to accurately identify a wide range of cardiac issues, ensuring you receive the right care as early as possible.

Our electrophysiology (EP) team performs advanced EP studies to diagnose the source and type of arrhythmias accurately. Using specialized catheters and real-time mapping, we evaluate your heart's electrical activity to guide the best treatment plan for your heart condition.

This is also called a treadmill or exercise ECG. This test is done to monitor the heart while you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. Your doctor also monitors your breathing and blood pressure. A stress test may be used to detect coronary artery disease, or to determine safe levels of exercise after a heart attack or heart surgery. This test can also be done using special medicines that stress the heart in a similar manner as exercise does. Sometimes a stress test will collect ECG information along with heart ultrasound pictures. This is called an exercise or stress echocardiogram (echo). It's more sensitive and specific than ECG stress testing alone.

How we prevent and treat heart disease in women

Our preventive cardiology programs focus on identifying and managing risk factors before heart problems develop. We deliver personalized care plans that include heart-healthy lifestyle guidance, advanced screenings and support. Our goal is to help you stay ahead of heart disease.

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, we are here to support you. Your doctor works with you to create a personalized care plan. Heart disease may be managed with lifestyle changes, medication or a heart procedure.

How to get care

stethoscope

The women’s heart program at the Ascension Texas Cardiovascular provides you with two consultation options: new patient appointments and women's heart health assessments.

New patient appointments: For women with symptoms of heart disease or women at risk for heart disease. During your appointment, your doctor may provide a formal risk assessment, diagnosis and care plan.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.