Monaco Women Network introduces
"Women's Cardiovascular Health"
with the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco
📆 Thursday, January 22 | 🕕 6-8pm | 📍 CCM | 🎤 In French | 🥂 Cocktail to follow
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Women’s Cardiovascular Health: Understanding Risks to Improve Prevention
Cardiovascular disease is now recognised as the leading cause of death among women, yet it remains widely underdiagnosed and often misunderstood.
As part of its ongoing programme, the Monaco Women Network organized a roundtable discussion dedicated to women’s cardiovascular health, in collaboration with the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco, on Thursday, January 22.
Four doctors from the Centre Cardio-Thoracique will take part in this discussion, sharing their expertise and perspectives on female-specific cardiovascular risks, early warning signs, prevention strategies and clinical realities:
– Dr Catherine Binet, Anesthesiologist – Intensive Care Specialist
– Dr Hélène Ceruti, Cardiologist
– Dr Ariane Truffier, Cardiologist
– Dr Camille Wehrlin, Interventional Cardiologist
Why do women so often experience different, and less recognizable, symptoms than men? Why are diagnoses delayed? Why do prevention strategies fail to account for hormonal changes across a woman’s life? And what are the cardiac conditions that affect women almost exclusively, such as “broken heart syndrome”?
At the heart (pun totally intended) of this discussion lies a fundamental principle: equity in healthcare does not mean treating everyone the same. It means adapting prevention and care strategies to each patient to offer the same chances of survival and quality of life.
The debate was opened by the clinic's CEO, Guy Nervo, and Valentina Colman, who introduced the four specialists from the Monaco Cardio-Thoracic Center: Dr. Catherine Binet, anesthetist-resuscitator, Dr. Hélène Ceruti, cardiologist, Dr. Ariane Truffier, cardiologist, and Dr. Camille Wehrlin, interventional cardiologist. Through their presentations, the doctors offered a comprehensive and multidisciplinary overview of issues related to women's cardiovascular health.
Today, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women, surpassing breast cancer, which, thanks to advances in prevention and treatment, is no longer the leading cause of death among women. According to data cited by the specialists who spoke at the event, approximately 200 women die of heart attacks every day, with an increasingly early incidence affecting women between the ages of 45 and 50.
During the round table discussion, the doctors emphasized that heart disease in women is still poorly identified and diagnosed late. Often, even in the presence of apparently reassuring tests, symptoms are attributed to stress, a factor that is certainly harmful to the heart but which risks masking more serious clinical signs.
Among the risk factors that significantly affect women's cardiovascular health, the use of hormonal contraceptives associated with smoking, poor diet, and alcohol consumption were highlighted. Added to these are the accumulation of body fat, high cholesterol, and a sedentary lifestyle, all of which significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
One particularly interesting aspect that emerged during the discussions concerned the link between mammography and heart health. It has been observed that calcifications detected during mammography may be a sign of excess calcium in the coronary arteries, opening up new prospects for early and integrated diagnosis.
The specialists also addressed the issue of heart valve dysfunction, particularly of the mitral and aortic valves, conditions that frequently affect women and require careful monitoring throughout their lives.
The concluding message was clear and shared: prevention remains the most effective tool for protecting women's hearts. Regular cardiology check-ups, a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity are essential for reducing risks and improving quality of life.
Through initiatives such as this, the Monaco Cardio-Thoracic Center and the Monaco Women Network confirm their joint commitment to promoting greater awareness of women's cardiovascular health, contributing to a cultural and healthcare change that is now indispensable.