Paola Casanova, MD specializes in women's heart health

Women’s Heart Health Program

We offer screenings and personalized plans to reduce heart attack and stroke risk in women.

To find out more about our services or make an appointment.

Regardless of age or gender, maintaining heart health is important, but did you know that women are particularly at risk of heart disease?

Heart disease in women is more common than you may think. Roughly 4 in 10 women in the U.S. live with some form of cardiovascular disease. It’s possible to have a heart condition and not find out until there is an emergency, like a sudden heart attack or heart failure.

Cardiologists at Memorial Healthcare System are improving our community’s heart health and helping more women live an excellent quality of life. We are one of South Florida’s premier women’s heart health programs. Our services include screenings, tests and treatments that optimize cardiac wellness for the long run.

Specialized Care for Heart Disease in Women: Why Choose Us?

When you choose Memorial for women’s heart health services, you’ll find:

Highly skilled team: Cardiologists with a special interest in women’s heart health guide your care. They excel in diagnosing, treating and managing the unique ways women experience heart disease. We stay current with the latest research so you receive exceptional care at every turn. Meet our team.
Peace of mind: Women’s heart disease symptoms may differ from men’s. Our depth of experience enables us to detect issues that can be easy to miss. Even if testing at another facility is negative and you’re having persistent symptoms, we conduct our own thorough evaluation. Learn more about our women’s heart screening and assessments.
Comprehensive care: At Memorial, you have access to a broad range of services. Our women’s heart specialists also diagnose and treat rare and complex conditions.
Access to additional heart services: The women’s heart health program is part of the nationally recognized Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute. This gives you access to additional specialists in arrhythmias, cardiac catheterization and heart failure. We work closely with our colleagues to ensure you receive seamless care.

Women’s Heart Health Specialty Areas and Clinics

You have access to a level of care that may not be widely available in South Florida. Our specialty areas include:

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

The Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute’s is the only program in South Florida accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) as an ACHA ACHD Accredited Comprehensive Care Center for adult congenital heart disease.

Chest pain and microvascular disease

We excel in treating coronary microvascular disease, a difficult-to-detect condition affecting tiny blood vessels. It causes nagging chest pain that can feel like a heart attack. Read more about our chest pain and microvascular disease clinic.

Cardio-obstetrics

Women’s heart specialists provide comprehensive care for conditions that may occur during pregnancy, like arrhythmias. We also help women with pre-existing heart conditions stay safe during pregnancy and delivery. Get more information about our cardio-obstetrics clinic.

Cardio-oncology

Our cardiologists help women with cancer receive radiation and chemotherapy that’s safer for their hearts. They actively participate in your care, providing testing and guidance before, during and after treatment.

Lipid disorders and prevention

We perform comprehensive testing to detect high levels of cholesterol and other lipids in your blood. Catching these issues in earlier stages lowers your risk of severe cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke. Read more about our lipid disorders and prevention clinic.

Vivian and Memorial, Partners for Her Heart Health

When Vivian experienced sudden, severe pain across her back and lost her arm strength, her Memorial cardiologist, Kashmira Bhadha, MD, medical director, women's heart health, treated her microvascular angina and cared for her at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute.

Read Vivian's Story

Integrative Heart Health Services for Women

Our integrative approach includes treating heart disease in women as well as its underlying causes. Your care may include referrals to additional Memorial specialists representing:

Endocrinology and diabetes services
Cardiac and pulmonary rehab offering fitness and exercise services through the Resolution Program
Gynecology and women's health services
Integrative medicine
Mental health
Nutrition
Sleep medicine
Weight-loss surgery

Women’s Heart Health Research

Cardiologists at Memorial's Heart and Vascular Institute are advancing treatment and outcomes through research. Focus areas include microvascular disease, arrhythmias, genomics, coronary artery disease, heart failure and more. If you’re interested in participating, ask your physician about active clinical trials you may be eligible for.

Medical Education

Women’s heart specialists share their knowledge with other physicians through continuing medical education activities. Memorial hosts virtual grand rounds, weekly cardiac conferences and team meetings. In these forums, we discuss methods for managing complex conditions.

Memorial also holds local symposiums and international conferences on topics like cardio-obstetrics. In these meetings, we review current care standards and the latest research findings. Additionally, we offer a graduate medical education program to train residents and cardiology fellows.

Community Outreach

Our interest in improving women’s heart health in our community includes outreach activities. We welcome the opportunity to speak with groups of women through local employers and other organizations. These talks include information about women's unique heart risks and how to address them.