Cardiovascular problems in women

This chapter presents the background, challenges, high-risk markers, strategic mapping, investigations, smart testing, invasive testing and management for cardiovascular problems in women. The term ischemic heart disease (IHD) encompasses a new concept of multifactorial pathophysiology for coronary atherosclerosis. It includes obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and dysfunction of the coronary microvasculature and endothelium resulting in arterial expansive remodeling and non-obstructive plaque. Chest pain is the most common presenting symptom of IHD, although its characteristics and associated symptomatology differ significantly between men and women. In the comprehensive investigation of IHD, a sequence of testing modalities (electrocardiogram, biomarkers, non-invasive imaging, stress test) are suggested. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) appears to have similar success rates for men and women with greater short and mid-term survival for women, and similar stroke rates among women and men.