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Specialized Expertise Just for Women’s Hearts

At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, we know that women have unique heart health needs and that cardiovascular disease can show up differently in women than in men. Often, signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women differ from those in men. Research shows that understanding how to recognize and treat cardiac conditions in female patients results in better outcomes.

Most importantly, we know that having a dedicated cardiologist and team who understand the uniqueness of women's heart care is essential. Learn more about how we’ll care for your heart at our women’s heart center on our Shawnee Mission campus or at one of our multiple clinics across the Kansas City metro.

Your heart is an essential part of your life, and we want to maximize care for you and your heart through all of life’s stages. Whether you’re facing issues as diverse as syncope or palpitations as a young woman, cardiac symptoms during pregnancy (which could be normal or signs of a struggling heart) or later in life during menopause and beyond, we’re here to care for you wholeheartedly.

Hormones and Heart Health: Hormonal fluctuations contribute to a woman’s cardiac health throughout her life, from menarche to pregnancy, menopause and beyond. Understanding hormonal influences is crucial in recognizing and managing cardiovascular risks unique to women.
Hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles can impact symptoms, blood pressure, heart rate and blood vessel function. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy and menopause can influence heart health. Starting with perimenopause into menopause, estrogen levels decline, affecting cardiovascular risk factors and increasing the risk of heart disease.
Regular checkups and conversations with your health care provider can help you safeguard your heart health.
Heart Conditions We Treat: Heart problems in women are as varied as women themselves, but we recognize and treat a wide range of cardiovascular diseases and heart conditions, including:
Angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA)
Arrhythmias
Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Cardio-obstetric issues
Cardio-oncology issues
Coronary artery disease
Congestive heart failure
Heart palpitations
Myocardial ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)
Rheumatic heart disease
Sarcoidosis-associated heart disease
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
Stress cardiomyopathy (also known as broken heart syndrome or takotsubo syndrome)
Valvular issues with both surgical and percutaneous options available
Our Treatments: At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, we provide the imaging services necessary to help diagnose cardiac disease in women and a full range of treatment options.

The following treatments are available but are not limited to:

Risk factor counseling
Medication optimization
Advanced imaging including cardiac MRI, echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) scanning, exercise and pharmacologic stress testing with ECHO and nuclear imaging.
Heart rhythm management with electrophysiology studies, ablations, device implantation, optimization and complex arrhythmia management.
Cardiac procedures including angioplasty, device implantation, ablation, both aortic and mitral valve transcutaneous procedures, open-heart surgeries, WATCHMAN™ device (left atrial occlusion) placement and other advanced therapies.
Finding Answers Through Clinical Research: The medical community continues to improve our understanding of the differences in women’s heart health and conditions primarily affecting women with ongoing research studies. This research guides more precise and appropriate treatments based on individual patient characteristics. There are currently several national, ongoing trials studying the differences between female and male cardiac disease. At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, we have active research studies, including a focus on diastolic heart failure, which is well-known to be more common in women than men.

Michelle Dew, MD, FACC — Leading the Way in **Women's Heart Care**

*Michelle L. Dew, MD*
*Medical Director, AdventHealth Women’s Heart Care Program*
Dr. Michelle Dew is an award-winning cardiologist with expertise in women's cardiac issues, men's cardiac care and general cardiac care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has received numerous honors, including being named a Top Doctor in Kansas City in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

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Meet Our Cardiologists Focusing on
Female Cardiac Health

Michelle Dew, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
Anthony A Albracht, MD, FACC

Interventional Cardiologist
M. Obadah Al Chekakie, MD, MSc, FACC

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Mazda Biria, MD, FACC

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Matthew Butler, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
Jason D'Souza, MD, FACC

Interventional Cardiologist
Matthew B Earnest, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Interventional Cardiologist
D. Aaron Guel, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Ammar Habib, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Interventional Cardiologist
Casey Hertzenberg, MD, FACS

Cardiothoracic Surgeon
John LeCluyse, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
William Ritter, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
Thaju Salam, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
Andrew Waters, MD, FACC, RPVI

Cardiologist
Anna Bhatnagar, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C

Nurse Practitioner
Janae Carlson, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C

Nurse Practitioner
S. Raychael Hulse, APRN, FNP-C

Nurse Practitioner
Stephanie Lininger, APRN, FNP-C

Nurse Practitioner
Structural Heart Coordinator
Melissa Young, PA-C

Physician Assistant

aha-go-red-womens-heart-care-ahsm-1 — Advancing Heart Care With the
**American Heart Association**

At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, we're paving the way for better heart health for women in the Kansas City metro area. For almost a decade, we've sponsored the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women® campaign, which empowers women to own their heart health. This initiative harnesses women's energy, passion and power to band together and wipe out heart disease. Through Go Red for Women®, more women are challenged to know their heart disease risk and reduce it with the right tools to lead a heart-healthy life.
*AdventHealth is a proud local sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Kansas City’s Go Red for Women Luncheon.

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Answering Your Heart Health Questions

Our hearts are synonymous with life, and we want to take the best care of them for our whole lives. We’ll partner with you on your journey to better cardiac health. If you’ve got questions, we’re here to answer them.

More About Heart Care in Kansas City

Question: What are the warning signs of a heart attack in women?
Answer:
The warning signs of a heart attack in women vary and may differ from those commonly associated with men. Here are some possible warning signs specific to women:
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Chest discomfort or pain: can be described as a squeezing, pressure or fullness in the center of the chest that may last for a few minutes or come and go
Pain in other upper body areas: women may experience discomfort or pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, stomach or abdomen
Shortness of breath: feeling breathless or having abnormal difficulty breathing, especially with exercise, possibly accompanying chest discomfort
Fatigue: unusual fatigue or exhaustion, with minimal physical exertion or even at rest
Nausea or vomiting: some women may experience nausea, indigestion or vomiting as a heart attack symptom
Sweating: unexplained cold sweats or perspiration unrelated to exertion or ambient temperature
Lightheadedness or dizziness: feeling lightheaded, dizzy or faint can be a warning sign
It's important to note that symptoms vary, and some women may experience typical, atypical or less pronounced symptoms during a heart attack.

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Question: How is women's heart care different from men's heart care?

Answer:

Physicians must recognize gender-based heart differences for tailored treatment due to distinct symptoms and needs in women and men.

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The medical director of AdventHealth's Women's Heart Care program, Dr. Michelle Dew, has been particularly interested in women's health for many years, receiving a grant from the FDA in 2004/2005 looking at discrepancies between nuclear cardiac stress testing and cardiac catheterization in female patients at the University of Arizona during her cardiology fellowship.
Taking the time to listen to a patient's symptoms can guide recommendations for treatments. Dr. Dew has received a "Best Doctor in Kansas City" recognition for 3 years running.

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Question: What does having cancer have to do with my heart?

Answer:

As if having the diagnosis of cancer were not enough, the treatments that we use to combat cancer have the potential to have deleterious side effects on the heart.
There can be immediate side effects which are more rare and side effects that can occur up to several years after treatment. All parts of the heart have the potential to be affected including the valves, electrical system, coronary arteries and the actual pumping function of the heart. Your Oncologist is very aware of these potential side effects and sometimes will involve one of our cardiologists to help manage your care. Thankfully, we know that cancer of the heart itself is very rare. AdventHealth has several cardiologists who have a special interest in Cardio-Oncology.
Question: What can I expect at my first appointment?

Answer:

Your experience will vary depending on the reason for your visit and because diagnosing and recommending treatment for a heart condition is a personalized process. Your first visit will include a detailed cardiac history with a provider experienced in evaluating the subtleties present in many women with cardiovascular disease.
We will review your intake form, perform a physical exam and review any prior cardiac evaluation records.
Afterward, we’ll create a collaborative, personalized treatment plan. This could include further testing, medications, lifestyle changes, procedures or a referral to other specialties.

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We will review your intake form, followed by a physical exam and a review of any prior cardiac evaluation records.
Afterward, we’ll create a collaborative, personalized treatment plan. This could include further testing, medications, lifestyle changes, procedures or a referral to other specialties.

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Question: Does AdventHealth offer financial assistance?

Answer:

Financial assistance may be available to patients receiving non-elective (emergent) hospital services who are not covered by any form of insurance or government program. Visit this page to learn more about our financial assistance.