Cardiovascular Diseases in Minnesota

Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Mayo Clinic employees and guests gather in the Gonda Atrium to celebrate National Wear Red Day, the annual day when people nationwide are asked to wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness.

Sharonne Hayes, M.D., and colleagues, along with Kathy Kasten, a patient in the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic, offer their thoughts on heart disease in women in this Emmy-nominated PBS broadcast.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, resulting in approximately 1/2 million deaths annually. Mayo Clinic in Rochester has developed a unique practice, the Women's Heart Clinic, to treat and prevent heart disease while addressing the distinct concerns of women.

Services offered by the Women's Heart Clinic

There are several components included in a visit to the Women's Heart Clinic including:

Risk Assessment
Patients complete a Mayo-developed questionnaire prior to their appoint to pinpoint individual risk factors for heart disease and for other diseases common to women. The risk assessment reports becomes the basis of each patient's unique heart disease prevention and treatment plan.

Comprehensive Cardiac Diagnostic Evaluation
After reviewing the patient's medical history and risk assessment report, and conducting an initial cardiac exam, Women's Heart Clinic cardiologists order the needed diagnostic tests and decide which other specialists should be consulted to develop the best treatment plan for each patient.

Risk Management
The established risk factors for heart disease are the same for men and women, but there are differences in how strongly they affect women. Women's Heart Clinic staff members understand these differences and help patients and their home physicians manage their risks.

Education
A healthcare professional will guide each patient in making healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent or slow the progression of heart disease. Depending on the patient's unique needs, recommendations may include:

• Blood pressure measurement and control
• Personalized exercise prescription
• Healthy eating plan
• Smoking cessation advice
• Stress management techniques

Hormone Therapy Discussion
Postmenopausal hormone therapy (sometimes called HRT) has known risks and is not recommended to prevent or treat heart disease. Women's Heart Clinic staff will help each patient make careful decisions about this therapy based on symptoms and the latest scientific information.

Coordinated Care
Women's Heart Clinic patients have full access to Mayo Clinic's state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services, both for heart disease and other conditions that may be discovered. If necessary, Women's Heart Clinic staff will refer patients to other special services including:

• Breast Clinic
• Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Clinic
• Diabetes Clinic
• Gonda Vascular Center
• Hypertension Clinic
• Nicotine Dependence Counseling
• Nutrition/Weight Management Counseling
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Osteoporosis Clinic
• Patient and Health Education Center
• Stress management consultation

Appointments

Women may be referred to the Women's Heart Clinic by their primary physician, or may request an appointment on their own.

To request an appointment, call (507) 538-6857.
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.

Physician Staff

Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D. – Director
Patricia J. Best, M.D.
Rekha Mankad, M.D.
Sharon L. Mulvagh, M.D.
Teresa S. M. Tsang, M.D.

Nurse Practitioner
Dalene Bott-Kitslaar, R.N., F.N.P.

Other Web Resources

The following Web sites may offer additional, helpful information:

• American Heart Association
• The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute – Women and Heart Disease
• MedlinePlus – Women's Health
• National Women's Health Information Center
• National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC)