Equity is one of the most meaningful yet misunderstood goals in health care. When we talk about heart health equity, especially during February’s overlap of American Heart Month and Black History Month, we are pointing to something deeper than awareness: we are pointing to justice in access, research, representation, and outcomes for women’s cardiovascular care.
The facts behind the urgency are stark. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing about one in five women. Black women, in particular, face disproportionate risk: they have higher rates of hypertension that develop earlier and are more severe than in white women, and they are more likely to die from heart disease. These disparities don’t happen in a vacuum; they reflect inequities in access, diagnosis, care, and research.
This blog explores what equity really means in women’s cardiovascular care and what actions can move us toward a future where every woman’s heart has an equal chance to thrive.
Equity Begins With Representation
In the world of cardiovascular research, historically, women have been underrepresented. For decades, clinical studies included predominantly male subjects, meaning that findings were often generalized to women without adequate evidence. This has real consequences: women and men can differ in how heart disease presents, progresses, and responds to treatment. For instance, women are more likely to experience symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and nausea during a heart attack. Symptoms that are often dismissed.
Equity means designing research that reflects the diversity of the population it seeks to serve. This includes not only women but women of different races, ethnicities, ages, and socioeconomic statuses. Diverse representation in clinical trials leads to a better understanding of how treatments work across different groups and helps dismantle gaps in outcomes.
Listening to Women’s Voices in Clinical Settings
One of the most persistent barriers to equitable care is how women’s symptoms are perceived and treated in clinical settings. Studies have shown that women presenting with potential heart attack symptoms are less likely to receive timely ECGs and less likely to be prescribed guideline‑recommended therapies compared with men.
These disparities point to systemic biases that go beyond individual clinicians. Equity requires training providers to recognize gender‑specific presentations and to respond with urgency. It also means empowering patients to advocate for themselves using tools like WomenHeart’s appointment preparation guides, symptom lists, and educational resources to ensure their concerns are heard and validated.
Policy & Advocacy: Structural Foundations of Equity
Heart health equity is not just about individual action. It’s also about policy. Policies shape access to care, who gets covered for what services, and how research dollars are allocated. This year, WomenHeart Champions are advocating for legislation that addresses structural barriers.
Their policy priorities reflect equity in action, recognizing that research, prevention, and treatment must be supported at the highest levels to achieve meaningful, lasting change.
Community Leadership and Shared Narratives
Equity also grows from the ground up. Initiatives like Her Heart, Her History honor Black women whose leadership has shifted the landscape of cardiovascular care. By elevating stories, historical context, and community‑centered strategies, this campaign highlights how equity is not a top‑down mandate; it’s a shared journey.
Actions individuals can take include:
- Watching and sharing Champion stories that illustrate disparities and resilience.
- Sharing relevant statistics and educational content on social platforms.
- Supporting funding and training for underrepresented advocates through donations.
- Joining action centers to communicate with policymakers.
These steps may seem small, but they fuel a larger culture shift that prioritizes every woman’s heart.
Equity Is Continuous, Not Seasonal
While awareness months like February give focus, equity isn’t seasonal. True equity requires ongoing efforts in research, in clinical practice, in policy, and in community support.
It means that a woman of color presenting with symptoms is believed and tested. It means that a caregiver navigating complex treatment options finds accessible resources. It means that lifesaving research reflects the women it aims to help.
When we talk about heart health equity, we’re talking about fairness, representation, justice, and outcomes. We’re talking about action every day, in every space where women’s hearts matter.
Our Her Heart, Her History campaign sheds light on the stories of Black women that have faced these challenges during their heart journeys. Support them by learning more, and advocating for what is right.
