I recently had the distinct honor of heading to Washington, DC to advocate for a cause incredibly close to my heart and vital to the well-being of millions: women's health, with a focus on the often overlooked crisis of heart disease.
It’s a startling fact, but one that bears repeating: heart disease is the #1 killer of women. Yet, it's frequently misperceived as something that mainly affects men. This harmful myth leads to women’s symptoms being dismissed, delays in diagnosis, and a lack of research into how heart disease affects women differently.
A Packed Room, A Powerful Message
I was invited to speak at a Congressional Briefing during the first-ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day on May 21, an event organized by the brilliant Liz Powell of G2G Consulting and Women's Health Advocates.
The briefing, titled "Sex Matters: Learn How Sex Differences Impact Medical Research, Innovation, Health Outcomes, the Economy and More," was, to my pleasant surprise, standing room only! It was a testament to the growing recognition that women's health can no longer be viewed as a niche issue.
Alongside an expert team of fellow physicians, researchers, advocates, and industry leaders, I addressed the crucial connection between menopause and heart disease. As women transition through menopause, the changes in hormone levels can significantly impact cardiovascular health, increasing risk. But there's a profound lack of research in this specific area, leaving many women and their doctors without the information they need for prevention and treatment.
The energy in the room was palpable. We heard from experts such as the medical device industry leader Nada Hanafi, MPH, MSc, who rightly stated, “Women are not little men; we have unique needs throughout our lifespan.”
Women’s Health Is a Bipartisan Issue
Our united front of nearly 90 national leaders came together to champion five key priorities to drive systemic change in women’s health. These included everything from creating dedicated women’s health programs within the NIH and FDA, to improving research and training around menopause—especially for women in the military—and protecting grants that use sex-based data to study health conditions.
We met with numerous politicians on both sides of the aisle andI personally had productive conversations with the offices of Georgia Democrats Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff, as well as Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Tim Scott. It was incredibly encouraging to witness genuine bipartisan interest.
After all, this isn't just about health; it's about equity, and it's about our economy. As Kristen Dahlgren, founder of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, put it, “Women’s health is a $1 trillion economic opportunity. Addressing that is good for America.”
Why This Matters to Me (And Should to You)
As a cardiologist, I see the real-world consequences of these gender gaps daily. At Hello Heart, we're committed to empowering everyone to understand and manage their heart health, but we need systemic change to support these efforts, especially for women. The delays in heart attack symptom recognition for women leads to women dying after a heart attack twice as often as men. This is a tragedy we can and must address.
The experience in DC was invigorating. Surrounded by brilliant, passionate women (and male allies!), all driving towards a common goal, I felt a renewed sense of optimism. The road is long, as Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks reminded us, "the journey of 1,000 miles begins with just one step.” But with continued advocacy, education, and the willingness of our policymakers to listen and act, we can make profound strides.
Thank you to Liz Powell, Celina Gorre of WomenHeart, and all the incredible advocates I stood alongside, including Sharon Malone, MD, Linda Goler Blount, MPH, Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, and so many more. Your expertise and passion are changing the landscape.
Let's keep this conversation going and turn awareness into action. Our lives depend on it.
1. Gazit T, Gutman M, Beatty AL. Assessment of Hypertension Control Among Adults Participating in a Mobile Technology Blood Pressure Self-management Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(10):e2127008, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27008. Accessed October 19, 2022. (Some study authors are employed by Hello Heart. Because of the observational nature of the study, causal conclusions cannot be made. See additional important study limitations in the publication. This study showed that 108 participants with baseline blood pressure over 140/90 who had been enrolled in the program for 3 years and had application activity during weeks 148-163 were able to reduce their blood pressure by 21 mmHg using the Hello Heart program.) (2) Livongo Health, Inc. Form S-1 Registration Statement. https:/www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639225/000119312519185159/d731249ds1.htm. Published June 28, 2019. Accessed October 19, 2022. (In a pilot study that lasted six weeks, individuals starting with a blood pressure of greater than 140/90 mmHg, on average, had a 10 mmHG reduction.) NOTE: This comparison is not based on a head-to-head study, and the difference in results may be due in part to different study protocols.
2. Validation Institute. 2021 Validation Report (Valid Through October 2022). https://validationinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Hello_Heart-Savings-2021- Final.pdf. Published October 2021. Accessed October 19, 2022. (This analysis was commissioned by Hello Heart, which provided a summary report of self-fundedemployer client medical claims data for 203 Hello Heart users and 200 non-users from 2017-2020. Findings have not been subjected to peer review.)
