Women’s cardiovascular health was the top of the Bayhealth Foundation Women’s Leadership Council hosted “Heart-to-Heart: A Conversation on Women’s Cardiovascular Health” on Feb. 26 at Surf & Turf Bar & Grill, bringing attention to the importance of women’s cardiovascular health through expert-led discussions and community engagement.
The event featured presentations from Bayhealth cardiologists Shwetha Gopal, MD, and Sana Hyder, MBBS, MD, who shared critical information about women’s cardiovascular health, including risk factors, symptoms, prevention, and early detection.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, accounting for one in five female deaths. Despite this, awareness of women’s cardiovascular health risks remains lower than expected.
“Many women do not realize their symptoms may be related to heart disease,” said Dr. Gopal, cardiologist at Bayhealth Heart & Vascular. “Understanding the warning signs and risk factors can help women seek care sooner and take steps to protect their heart health.”
During the presentation, clinicians emphasized that symptoms related to women’s cardiovascular health can differ from traditional expectations. Women may experience jaw pain, back pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or unusual fatigue, which are often mistaken for other conditions.
The discussion also explored risk factors specific to women’s cardiovascular health, including pregnancy-related conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, hormonal changes during menopause, and autoimmune diseases that increase inflammation. Chronic stress and caregiving responsibilities were also identified as contributing factors.
In addition to identifying risks, the event highlighted prevention strategies to support women’s cardiovascular health, including maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, engaging in regular exercise, following a balanced diet, and avoiding tobacco use.
Attendees also learned about screening tools that support early detection of women’s cardiovascular health risks, including Lipoprotein(a) testing and coronary calcium scoring. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a genetically influenced cholesterol particle linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The Bayhealth Foundation Women’s Leadership Council continues to host programs that educate the community and promote awareness around women’s cardiovascular health while supporting broader health initiatives across central and southern Delaware.
For more information about heart and vascular services at Bayhealth, visit them online.
