By Women, For Women

In Kentucky, more than 4,800 women die each year from heart disease. And Kentucky women are also at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than women in other states. That’s why the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute has a cardiology program focused on the heart health needs specific to women in Kentucky.

Led by Dr. Gretchen Wells, the Women’s Heart Health Program addresses the unique cardiac demands of women with a specially tailored program. Its one-of-a-kind, thorough approach provides personalized heart care for women by a predominantly female group of physicians, nurses and staff.

As part of a comprehensive spectrum of care available at UK HealthCare, patients of the Women’s Heart Health Program have access to the most advanced treatments for cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, chest pain, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, microvascular disease and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Advancing treatments through research

In the past, women who have had chest pain and abnormal stress test results but no diagnosis have had no further options. But now, by utilizing Volcano ComboMap testing, UK is the only site in the Commonwealth with the ability to definitively diagnose microvascular disease.

UK is also the only Kentucky site for the Women’s Ischemia Trial to Reduce Events in Non-Obstructive CAD (WARRIOR) trial- providing access to the nation’s first large, randomized controlled research study for women with cardiac symptoms but no significant blockage on testing.

Finding solutions and treatment options for a diagnosis of SCAD will take a lot of research, and UK HealthCare is the sole location in Kentucky participating in the iScad Registry with the mission of improving patient care and driving scientific discovery.

Understanding that prevention is key when it comes to heart disease, this Gill team is made up of not only a physician, physician assistant and nurses but patients also have access to a registered dietitian and cardiopulmonary rehab experts to help improve a patient’s overall health.