Women are Truly Different at Heart

Many women think that heart disease primarily affects men - that is not true. In fact, more women die of heart disease than men. It is the #1 killer of women, regardless of race or ethnicity.

A majority of women in Northern California have one or more risk factors for heart disease but do not consider themselves to be at risk for a heart attack. In addition, most women are not aware that heart disease is their greatest health threat, despite statistics that show more women than men have died each year from heart attack since 1984.

We invite you to visit Sutter Health's new cardiovascular Web site loaded with information about heart disease prevention, treatment, and services available through our not-for-profit network of hospitals and physicians.

Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and the not-for-profit Sutter Health network recently completed a study to better understand women’s knowledge and attitudes concerning heart disease as part of a major program called Women's Heart Advantage. Our research of women aged 40-70 revealed the following:

• 54% of women are at least 20 pounds overweight


• 47% of women have a family history of heart attack


• 30% of women have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol


• 15% of women smoke.

The goal of Women's Heart Advantage is to help women understand their risk, identify the warning signs and learn how to live a heart-healthy life.

Currently, Sutter North Bay Women's Health Center (WHC) has a significant opportunity to assist the medical community by effectively and efficiently screening and educating thousands of Sonoma County women for cardiovascular disease. There is no similar community-based cardiovascular risk assessment program for women anywhere in Sonoma County.

The Women's Heart Advantage program offers the opportunity to undergo low cost and effective screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors when they come in to receive a screening mammogram or bone density test. Patients are screened for the most significant modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease: hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and smoking. If you're interested in making a 20 minute appointment for this screening, please call 576-4800.

Learn more about our clinical initiatives:
AMI initiative (Acute Myocardial
CHF initiative (Congestive Heart

Back to top