The Bravis Hospital opened a specialized women’s heart clinic this week to address how cardiovascular diseases manifest differently in female patients. Cardiovascular conditions in women frequently present with unique symptoms that diverge from traditional male-centric medical markers, prompting the hospital to allocate more time, attention, and specialized guidance for patients dealing with unexplained cardiac complaints.
Heart Problems Present Differently in Female Patients
Bravis cardiologist Carla Somers explained that medical science now recognizes that certain heart problems present differently in female patients, and those clinical signs require serious evaluation. Some individuals experience persistent symptoms even when examinations reveal no noticeable blockages in the major coronary arteries. Somers noted that these complaints remain entirely real, pointing out that certain patients even experience full heart attacks while their large blood vessels appear completely normal during examinations. At the clinic, patients receive more time to speak with a physician, and Somers noted that other factors such as an early menopause, pregnancy complications, miscarriages, migraine, or certain auto-immune diseases can also play a role for women.
Underlying Causes in Small Blood Vessels
The underlying physiological causes often trace back to the tiny blood vessels surrounding the heart or to sudden blood vessel spasms that traditional diagnostic testing fails to capture. Patients frequently cycle through emergency departments only to be told that examinations show no major obstructions, despite feeling genuinely ill. Somers emphasized that a thorough medical conversation is crucial for this specific patient group, noting that a regular outpatient clinic does not always have sufficient time for a proper, detailed inquiry into what is going on and to guide someone through finding the right treatment together.
Referrals Depend on Clinical Presentation
Access to the new clinic depends on clinical presentation rather than automatic enrollment for every female cardiac patient. Individuals who undergo standard evaluations without doctors finding a clear cause receive a direct referral to the specialized clinic. The primary objective centers on keeping patients as healthy as possible while minimizing overall disease burden.
National Awareness Campaigns and CPR Training in Breda
Hart- and vaatziekten remain a leading cause of death among women, with 52 women still dying from a cardiovascular disease in the Netherlands every day, yet symptoms are still recognized too late or missed entirely. In Breda, Hart for Her partnered with Stichting Reanimatie en AED Onderwijs Breda to organize specialized CPR courses for women in the lead-up to Dress Red Day on September 29, which sees landmarks like Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Ziggo Dome, the Muiderslot, and CORPUS illuminated in red alongside hospitals, museums, pop venues, and businesses. Suzanne Oomen of Hart for Her stated in the Oosterhout Vandaag program on ORTS Radio that In any case, we believe that more attention should be paid to cardiovascular diseases in women.
because community knowledge regarding the female heart remains limited even among women who prioritize health. Although awareness of male-female medical differences is growing, Oomen noted that cardiovascular disease in women [wordt] according to Oomen still too often not recognized or recognized too late,
presenting with symptoms that can include jaw, neck, or back pain and dizziness alongside pressure, pain, or a tight feeling in the chest. Participants learn to recognize cardiac arrests, perform chest compressions, and operate automated external defibrillators during evening sessions held at the Fatimastraat location on Thursday, October 1 and Thursday, October 8 from 19:00 to 21:30, after which they receive a digital certificate, with Oomen emphasizing that Anything you do in a time of need is a bonus; anything is better than doing nothing.
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