The UCSD Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program offers gender-sensitive, individualized, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor screening and symptom assessment. This evaluation will help determine each woman’s personal heart and stroke health, risk factors, and the level of prevention or treatment strategy each woman requires.
Step 1: The Cardiovascular Risk Self-Assessment
To start, each woman will take a free cardiovascular risk self-assessment. This self-assessment tool, called "The Way to a Woman's Heart," is designed to give each woman an idea of her individual cardiovascular health status while educating her about women and CVD risk factors. Even for women with suspected or known CVD, the self-assessment is still a useful tool for ongoing risk factor modification and future event prevention. Download a copy of the self-assessment.
Step 2: Risk Factor Screening and Symptom Assessment
Once submitted, the self-assessment will be reviewed by the nurse from the UCSD Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program. Upon request, the nurse may assist in completing the self-assessment and obtain any necessary missing or indicated testing (such as a fasting cholesterol profile or other lab tests). The nurse will also ask about the presence of symptoms that might reflect early or active undiagnosed CVD and discuss each woman’s profile with a UCSD Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program physician specialist.
Step 3: The Disease Management Plan
Based on the results of the risk factor screening and symptom assessment, recommendations and individualized education will be provided to each woman about their next level of care. Each woman will also receive a comprehensive disease management plan to review with their primary care physician. If there are symptoms of heart disease, arrhythmia (heart rhythm abnormalities) or stroke warning symptoms, a personalized evaluation by a UCSD Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program physician specialist will be promptly scheduled.
Different Levels of Cardiovascular Risk:
- Women with low cardiovascular risk and without suspect symptoms will be counseled on ways to sustain cardiovascular health and encouraged to continue healthcare maintenance with their primary physician.
- Women with intermediate, indeterminate risks or concerning symptoms may require additional diagnostic or risk-stratification testing and should be scheduled to see a Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program physician specialist.
- Women determined to be at high-risk for cardiovascular disease will be scheduled for an appointment with a Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program physician specialist and anticipate specialized and advanced diagnostic testing.
As part of the treatment of CVD, the UCSD Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program provides women with educational and motivational tools to take greater control of their overall health through lifestyle modifications.
To submit a completed cardiovascular risk self-assessment and schedule a personalized risk factor evaluation, please call (858) 657-8530.