Though women and men are different, women benefit from the same types of treatment for cardiovascular disease as men, when appropriately applied. This is not to say that treatment should be “one size fits all” for women and men, but that the same kinds of treatment are effective. In fact, every cardiovascular disease patient is very individual, and the treating physician will use professional practice guidelines and experience to create a treatment plan that works with that patient’s medical needs and quality of life expectations.

The range of treatment options include:

•  Lifestyle changes 
•  Medication 
•  Interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting 
•  Surgery, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery  

As more women enroll in clinical trials and other studies, more information should emerge about how to best treat women and reduce the higher percentage of complications in women from cardiovascular procedures compared to men.

Follow the links below for information on treatment options for particular forms of cardiovascular disease:

• Coronary artery disease/heart disease
• Angina/chest pain
• Carotid artery disease/stroke 
• Peripheral artery disease/blockages in the legs