Women’s Heart Health

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women in Canada. And yet, the bulk of heart disease research focuses on men. Not only are females with heart disease under-researched, they are also under-diagnosed and under-treated.

One Providence Health Care scientist who is working to close the research gap and stop women from dying unnecessarily is Dr. Karin Humphries. Thanks to a $1.6 million federal grant, Dr. Humphries and her team are investigating whether one simple change in how we diagnose a heart attack — using a diagnostic cut-point that is specific for women, rather than an overall cut-point — could improve care for women and reduce their risk of dying.