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About a decade ago, a group of climate scientists described five scenarios for the future. Called the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), these scenarios suggest how socioeconomic development could evolve in worlds with differing challenges to climate adaptation and mitigation. 

One SSP, “Sustainability,” envisions a collective shift toward green energy, reducing economic inequities and investments in research and development. Another, “Regional Rivalry,” paints a picture of a world riven by nationalism and fighting over resources. In that future, high levels of conflict stifle economic development. Rich countries see slower population growth, while birth rates increase in poorer nations. 

Scientists and policymakers use SSPs to project how today’s choices affect tomorrow’s world. But for complex subjects like public health, these intentionally simple scenarios don’t capture every complexity. Under the SSP “Fossil-Fueled Development,” for example, the world doubles down on fossil fuels, spurring rapid economic growth. That growth, according to the scenario, would spur investments in education and health. But at the same time, increased emissions would degrade the environment, exacerbating health risks.

That description leaves many public health questions unanswered: Would hospital systems be better prepared to handle the increased volume? Could more frequent heat waves lead people to spend more time inside, amplifying mental health burdens? 

Last year, a group of 63 experts in climate change and health met in Vienna to extend the SSPs to better reflect the dynamic nature of public health over the course of the century. Their expanded narratives, published Oct. 5 in The Lancet Planetary Health, provide comprehensive visions of possible population health and health system development and explore how communities might better prepare for shifting future health risks.

Carole Green, a UW doctoral student in environmental and occupational health sciences, attended the workshop and is lead author of the accompanying paper. UW News sat down with Green to talk about where previous climate scenarios fell short, the conference’s work and how we can better prepare to keep each other safe in an uncertain future. 

What are the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, and how do we use them? 

Carole Green: Shared Socioeconomic Pathways are a narrative framework that can be used in conjunction with pathways of greenhouse gas emissions to project future climate impacts to 2100. The SSPs are basically descriptions of the societal choices that affect the magnitude and pattern of interventions to protect human health and well-being.

The SSPs are essentially five possible alternatives for our future world. These pathways have been expanded to incorporate a wide range of issues of relevance for public health, and have been downscaled to describe what the future might look like in different countries and regions.

SSPs are featured in global processes like United Nations climate conferences, where negotiators come from around the world to debate and agree on approaches to build resilience and sustainability to climate changes. The models help us understand how those choices interact and what the effects might be. 

We also use the SSPs in health research to understand the possible magnitude and geographic pattern of health impacts from climate change over the course of this century. Many projects at UW use future warming levels to analyze things like future wildfire impacts on Washington residents (research done by UW’s Climate Impacts Group). 

What do the SSPs leave out? 

CG: SSPs assume that humans will make socioeconomic changes in the future. The changes described in the pathways originally quantified GDP and population changes. Our work adds complexity, specifically to understand how the future of public health could evolve under these five pathways.

A lot of people are interested in heat waves, for example. Climate modeling alone can capture the planet’s warming, but doesn’t consider issues like how access to hospitals and healthcare could change by 2100. Current heat wave modeling looks at the climate interactions that shape health impacts but don’t explore how concurrent changes in society could interact with climate change to impact people’s well-being. 

Once you added complexity into the SSPs, what changed in your understanding of possible futures? Did you learn anything new or surprising?

CG: We learned that the drivers of health impacts are complex, and many are neither entirely good nor bad. Prioritizing sustainability, mitigation and adaptation will not necessarily lead to the best world for each future health outcome, but it definitely affects the future of health and well-being. Health futures we face globally are not predetermined. Different pathways could lead to vastly different health outcomes, with governance, health-system capacity, resources, equity, and cross-sectoral factors such as water and energy playing critical roles.

For example, under one of the scenarios, people don’t prioritize reducing greenhouse emissions, focusing instead on adapting to the changing climate. Strong investment in technology leads to quite a lot of wealth, which can benefit some health outcomes. But it’s not ideal, because people would also have to spend more time indoors because of the growing heat burden and would have to reduce connection to the outdoors and nature. You really don’t want to live in that scenario.

It’s very much a mix, which is challenging. 

Now that we have these fleshed-out scenarios, what does that allow us to do? 

CG: It allows us to have a more complex understanding of future health risks from climate change. Now we can add a layer of understanding and think about more variables than just warming levels and population numbers. It’s made of a lot of complexities that affect health, and those have their own effects.

In future climate scenarios, what does access to healthcare look like? What is the extent of food insecurity? How are we making sure people have access to clean air and water? When we have some understanding of those interactions, then it can motivate decision-makers to develop appropriate policies. 

What comes next? 

CG: We will apply these narratives to six different countries where there has been limited research using the SSPs. We’re working in Brazil, Senegal, South Africa, India, Vietnam and the Solomon Islands. We’ve started identifying key leads across these countries, where there is quite an appetite for this research. All countries are required to develop national health adaptation plans and to conduct vulnerability and adaptation assessments. They are also interested in modeling future health risks. We want to explore the extent to which the SSP narratives apply in their country’s context. Do they fit? How would they look different? There’s a lot of interest in building on local knowledge and bringing local experts together to talk about possible futures. 

We’re also quantifying specific disease burdens, universal healthcare access, water and sanitation infrastructure and digital health. Some quantifications will look at pairing SSPs with certain warming levels to project impacts. 

Last question: This group — including dozens of the world’s leading experts on climate and health — chose you to write the paper. How did that happen? 

CG: I am definitely not the leading expert in that room, so it was very much an honor to work on this and lead the writing. A lot of it comes from my advisor, Kristie Ebi, who is very supportive of me and my work. That’s been really meaningful. She encouraged me to take this on.

I often tell people that my job is to listen to experts and write down what they say. It was very meaningful to get to make those connections. 

For more information or to reach the researchers, contact Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu. Other UW authors include Dr. Jeremy Hess, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, of global health, and of emergency medicine in the UW School of Medicine; and Helen Pineo, research associate professor of urban design and planning.

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New capybara fossil changes the forecast for the ancient Atacama region

Capybaras like their habitats wet. These large rodents thrive in low-elevation wetlands, migrating along creeks and rivers to nibble on foliage and flowers. That’s why researchers were surprised to find an 8.8 million-year-old fossilized capybara tooth in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on Earth. In a paper published Sept. 5 in Scientific Reports, researchers postulate that the Atacama Desert must have had a wetter climate during the Miocene epoch, based on this discovery. This is the first time a capybara species has ever been seen in the Atacama region of Chile — today these creatures reside in the marshy lowlands across Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay. Researchers had at one time assumed that the Andean mountain chain on the eastern side of Chile would have prevented these short-legged rodents from ever entering the Atacama region. With this discovery, the authors propose that capybaras were able to follow a wetland trail along the northern part of South America, trekking from Bolivia to Peru into northern Chile. In addition to capybaras, the ancient Atacama region also likely had palms and other flowering plants, according to plant fossils analyzed by a UW scientist for the study. These findings challenge the idea that the Atacama was just always a desert, and can help researchers better understand how shifts in climate can drastically affect the environment.

For more information, contact co-author Caroline Strömberg, UW professor of biology, at caestrom@uw.edu.      

A full list of co-authors and funding is included in the paper. Adapted from a release from the University of Arizona.

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Multitasking gives marine microbes an edge when nutrients are scarce

The world’s oceans teem with tiny organisms that are difficult to study yet critical to account for. The organisms that make up this microscopic community, many of which are protists, have evolved over time to help keep marine ecosystems balanced. A UW study published Sept. 11 in the ISME Journal, found that organisms that can both photosynthesize and eat to generate energy do better in nutrient-limited environments, which includes warmer water. This flexibility may help them cope with changing conditions and could help researchers gauge how marine ecosystems will respond to future warming. Gathering more data from the bottom of the food web is important for understanding the ecosystem-wide impacts of environmental change. The study also debuted a new genetic method for studying energy production versus consumption that may make it easier to study protists. Samples in this study were collected from the North Pacific, near Hawaii and about 1,000 miles north, but the researchers hope to continue expanding the radius to improve global ocean models.

For more information, contact Sacha Coesel, UW research scientist and engineer of biological oceanography at coesel@uw.edu.

The UW co-authors are Shiri Graff van Creveld, Francois Ribalet and Virginia Armbrust. A full list of co-authors and funding is included in the paper.

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UW engineers capture behavior of ‘edge waves’ on beaches, putting popular wave models to the test

Coastal engineers and oceanographers often think of the motion of water on beaches as “one dimensional”: waves propagating directly onto the beach from offshore. These simplified wave models are used widely from designing shoreline infrastructure to forecasting coastal flooding. However, some waves propagate along the coast rather than crashing into it, and may push an additional meter of water depth onto the beach. For decades, these “edge waves” have not been accounted for in the one-dimensional models commonly used to understand wave behavior. To find out how edge waves might be impacting model accuracy, researchers at the UW and UC San Diego deployed an array of pressure and velocity sensors along a beach in Southern California for 60 days. In a paper published Sept. 4 in JGR Oceans, the researchers describe a model they built to tease out the influence of edge waves in the larger system. While edge waves contributed a significant amount of energy, the team found that ultimately the one-dimensional models that exclude edge waves remain accurate enough for predicting total water levels at the shoreline.

For more information, contact Cassandra Henderson, a postdoctoral scholar of civil and environmental engineering, at cshender@uw.edu.

A full list of co-authors and funding is included with the paper.

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How Colombian environmentalists use law and democracy to redefine mountain landscapes

In 2013 and 2017, Colombian voters in two towns backed a legal effort to stop a large-scale gold mining project. In doing so, they are making the mountainous areas where they live more visible and politically relevant. The decision allowed environmental advocates to organize around a larger area defined by elevation, massive volume, and subterranean and arboreal features. Ángela Castillo Ardila, UW assistant professor of anthropology, recently published a research article in the journal Anthropological Forum that examines how the effort used legal tools for citizen participation to not only voice their opinions on extractive projects, but also reconfigure space in unprecedented ways. The case shows that democratic participation can have far-reaching consequences for how landscapes are defined and lived. The article appears in a special issue, called “Ethnographies of Vertical and Volumetric Worlds,” which was co-edited by Ardila and Steven Schwartz of the University of Rochester.

For more information, contact Castillo at acastil@uw.edu.

Funding information is included in the paper.

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Researchers develop new way to measure how blood clots form

A wound stops bleeding because tiny blood cell fragments called platelets clump together to form a clot. Researchers know that platelets generate forces that help compact and strengthen clots. However, they’ve struggled to understand how blood clots form in real time. To better understand this system, UW mechanical engineers created a device that measures how platelet forces and stiffness evolve together during the first minutes of clot formation. In a paper published recently in Advanced Healthcare Materials, the research team used the device to apply magnetic forces to clumps of platelets, causing them to strengthen and stiffen through a process called “mechanotransduction” in which cells convert mechanical forces into biological responses. These findings could be used to study how new drugs affect clot formation, how platelets respond to signals when disease is present, and how blood clotting biomechanics contribute to cardiovascular disorders.

For more information, contact Nate Sniadecki, a UW professor of mechanical engineering, at nsniadec@uw.edu.

The UW co-authors are Nikita Taparia, Ava Obenaus, Yoeur-Man Mach and Nakul Sridhar. A full list of co-authors and funding is included with the paper. Adapted from a story by UW mechanical engineering.

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UW researchers probe superconducting materials that defy expectations

Most materials resist the flow of electricity to some degree, but unusual materials known as superconductors can carry an electric current with no resistance at all. Superconductors offer a unique window into the physics of materials at tiny scales, and they could one day revolutionize electronics. In recent years, researchers have discovered new forms of superconductivity in stacks of atomically thin materials such as graphene. Resistance typically drops to zero as these materials are cooled, but in some cases it mysteriously levels off at a small finite value, which contradicts expectations of superconductor behavior. In a paper published Sept. 23 in Nature, UW materials scientists tested this behavior with a device consisting of several layers of graphene stacked in a staircase-like pattern. By adjusting voltages applied to the device, the researchers could control whether the graphene exhibited true superconductivity or the more peculiar “failed” form, providing clear evidence that failed superconductivity is real. The team is now working to uncover the origin of this mysterious behavior.

For more information, contact Matthew Yankowitz, a UW associate professor of both physics and materials science and engineering, at myank@uw.edu..

The UW co-authors are Anna Okounkova, Abigail Sohm, Manish Kumar and Derek Waleffe. A full list of co-authors and funding is included with the paper.

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A city’s sewers say a lot about its residents. Sick people often shed pathogens in their waste, adding traceable amounts of bacteria and viruses into wastewater. Testing that wastewater offers a simple, low-cost way to monitor the spread of disease — a practice that began with polio in the 1940s and became more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the CDC’s wastewater monitoring program tests for a variety of common and emerging viruses.

American public health agencies don’t routinely test wastewater for sexually transmitted infections, but new research led by the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Health found that such methods could be used to effectively identify Chlamydia trachomatis, the bacteria that causes chlamydia.

The study, published Aug, 7 in ACS ES&T Water, could help public health agencies better identify and respond to increased spread of chlamydia and other STIs, which are notoriously underreported in traditional data. The researchers specifically explored wastewater’s potential as a community monitoring tool, and not as a way to identify cases or trace pathogens back to individual people or locations.

“STIs are known for being underreported because of a lot of factors, especially stigma and the prevalence of asymptomatic cases,” said co-lead author Erica Fuhrmeister, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and of civil and environmental engineering at the UW. “Wastewater is cool because it’s population level. You don’t need people to go to the doctor and seek out treatment to know that there are people in a community shedding specific pathogens.”

Working in collaboration with local health jurisdictions, researchers collected frequent samples from influent wastewater at five wastewater treatment plants across Washington state and six neighborhood-level sewer sites near Seattle. Collection sites ranged from a large, high-population urban area to a rural treatment plant serving fewer than 5,000 people. Researchers masked the specific names and locations of sample locations to protect the privacy of people and communities.

Researchers tested wastewater samples for the pathogens that cause three common STIs: chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea. C. trachomatis was the most prevalent pathogen across all test sites. The bacteria that cause gonorrhea and syphilis were found far less frequently, despite data showing confirmed cases of those diseases in the associated areas. 

Further research could reveal why tests captured C. trachomatis more consistently than other STI-causing bacteria and explore the study’s limitations, which included people moving between sewer sites and the influence of demographics.

The researchers are also eager to investigate several trends they observed in the data, such as spikes in pathogen concentration occurring near the winter holidays and after Valentine’s Day.

Among the neighborhood collection sites was a small, densely populated area adjacent to a college campus. More than 87% of residents were young people between 18 and 34 years old, a population considered high-risk for STIs. Clinical health records showed very low case counts of chlamydia, but researchers consistently detected C. trachomatis in wastewater samples. 

That gap could indicate underreporting driven by stigma or asymptomatic cases. It also gives public health officials an opportunity to react to a previously unknown increase in infection activity.

“From a public health perspective, data like this allows us to elevate awareness that this pathogen is here and spreading in the community, even if cases aren’t presenting to clinics or providers are not identifying the infections in their patients,” said co-lead author Breanna McArdle, program manager of the Washington State Department of Health’s wastewater surveillance program. “A small amount of wastewater can tell you so much about the community while simultaneously filling gaps in the traditional methods we monitor disease activity.” 

A full list of co-authors is available with the paper. 

This research was funded in part by the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

For more information, contact Fuhrmeister at efuhrm@uw.edu.

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Nobody is immune from the hazards of summer wildfires, even the experts. At the University of Washington, researchers study both how to mitigate and understand wildfire behavior and how air quality degrades as a result of burning blazes. While UW faculty contribute to a rapidly emerging body of research into the risks of fire and smoke season, they also contend with the decisions that the rest of us face: how to protect themselves and their families, where to find reliable information, and how to manage the anxieties of summer smoke. 

Who better to learn from? As fires rage and smoke smothers the Pacific Northwest — including historic and devastating blazes in Spokane — UW News sat down with five UW experts in fire science, forestry, air pollution and more to ask how they manage wildfire season. 

This summer, the U.S. has been inundated with wildfire smoke, sometimes from fires burning hundreds of miles away. What sources do you use to track wildfires and air quality?

Ernesto Alvarado, research associate professor of environmental and forest sciences: The most reliable source, in my opinion, is the Fire and Smoke Map from AirNow.gov. This map consolidates data from various government sources related to wildfires, prescribed burns, smoke emissions and up-to-date models. It serves as a comprehensive resource for smoke emissions information.

Susan Prichard, research scientist in environmental and forest sciences: For smoke forecasts, I often turn to AirNow, but the Washington Smoke Blog is an excellent friend when we have been inundated with smoke for days and I’m looking for extended forecasts and analyses. Purple Air is also an incredibly helpful site. I’m careful to check if the readings are U.S. EPA PM2.5 with the conversion applied — otherwise the readings generally are higher than reality.

Brian Harvey, professor of environmental and forest sciences: For personal use and immediate up-to-date information, I really like Watch Duty. As a free app that has lots of options and configurations, it can be really helpful for getting immediate information on any ongoing fire incident and incorporates information from multiple sources. Second, for more detailed maps, photos, and daily incident updates, I frequently check Inciweb, which is the U.S. government interagency website that provides real-time public information and updates on fire incidents. As a forest fire scientist, I also use these sources for archived information about past fires that can better help us in our research.

Let’s say you’re planning a weekend trip, or a hike you’ve been looking forward to. How do you predict and plan around fire and smoke? 

E. Alvarado: I’ll plan my outdoor activities while considering potential smoke impacts. I’ll choose an area that’s unlikely to be affected by smoke for the duration of the activity. During the fire season, I’ll avoid areas with thermal inversions, which can trap smoke at night. For example, canyons or valleys surrounded by mountains are risky.

To predict future smoke concentrations, the National Weather Service is the most reliable source of information. Their weather predictions can indicate fire weather for the duration of the forecast. This is also important for hiking the rest of the year to stay informed about the weather for any outdoor activity.

BH: FireSmoke.ca has nice maps of the U.S. and Canada with high-resolution smoke forecasts over the coming day or two. These maps can be really helpful for planning ahead, though are always subject to change based on changing fire behavior or weather conditions. With our lab group doing field work outdoors all summer long every summer, these are critical tools for us to be able to do our work. 

Do you have an AQI threshold where you’re no longer comfortable being outside? Does that vary depending on what you’re doing outside? If so, how?

 

Edmund Seto, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences: The AQI is designed for communicating health risk to both general populations as well as populations that may be more susceptible to smoke.  Rather than focusing on the AQI number, I instead focus on the public health messaging (the “Description of Air Quality” column in this figure):

Elena Austin, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences: I generally become more concerned when air quality has remained consistently elevated for about 24 hours, because I think about smoke exposure cumulatively over the course of the day.

SP: If it looks like air quality is going to degrade over an AQI of 80, I start thinking about my health and what level of activity I’m going to do. As the science on smoke and human health only becomes more cautionary, I save strenuous exercise like running or climbing mountains for times when the AQI is below 80. 

If you have to be outside during smoky days, how do you protect yourself? 

E. Alvarado: Starting from AQI in the yellow zone, I may wear a N95 mask. However, above the orange zone, an N95 mask is mandatory.

ES: If working outdoors during smoky days, you and your employer should be aware that in Washington State, Labor and Industries has established rules to protect workers from hazardous smoke exposures. Also be aware that oftentimes smoke and heat co-occur, and there are heat exposure rules for working outdoors too.

E. Austin: I always make contingency plans while hiking and camping. In that case, I identify egress routes prior to departing in case a wildfire event limits my ability to return using the route I had planned. I also sign up for emergency text alerts for the county where I am spending time, and check the current fire activity and nearby evacuation status. 

How do you keep your indoor spaces safe during smoke waves?

ES: Thinking ahead and preparing your indoor space for regularly occurring wildfire smoke episodes is just as important as planning for other emergency events.  Can you close doors and windows tightly and have good weather sealing to avoid smoke from infiltrating indoors? Can you set your ventilation system to recirculate air?  Have you replaced your ventilation system (e.g., furnace) filter recently? Have you considered getting a portable HEPA-rated air cleaner that is sized appropriately for your bedroom or living area?  Have you considered building a DIY box-fan filter?

E. Austin: I create a smoke-ready space in my home. This is a separate area, where I set my ventilation system to recirculate indoor air rather than bringing in outdoor air. I also run a HEPA filter, rated to perform well for the square footage of my space, during wildfire events. Lastly, I try to reduce air exchange between the indoor space and outdoors by closing all windows, only opening outdoor doors when necessary, and weatherizing the space around doors and windows prior to the event.

SP: For indoor air, we make sure our HEPA air filters are clean at the end of each fire season so that they are ready to go the following year. When there’s smoke in the air, we make sure windows and doors are closed and use our air filters. We also just got a heat pump so that we can keep windows closed when smoke is a factor at night.

If you find yourself in close proximity to an active wildfire, what steps do you suggest taking?

BH: I suggest being as conservative and cautious as possible. Conditions can change rapidly, and being in the direct line of where a fire is spreading can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening. So first, I would make sure that there is a clear and safe route to safety via a road, trail, path, etc. Second, assessing the situation through any official information or local authorities is critical. If the fire has not been reported, calling 911 immediately is important to alert responders and others. If an evacuation order is issued, leaving immediately is critical to get to safety ASAP.

E. Austin: Many local districts allow you to register your phone and/or email to receive real-time alerts. I also suggest identifying your evacuation route, any obstacles or bottlenecks that would slow down your evacuation and to preplan and even pack critical items that you would need to take with you in an emergency.

SP: I live in the Methow Valley, and we’ve been evacuated around five times in the last 20 years. As a fire ecologist who studies fire behavior and smoke, one of the most upsetting things for me has been to watch neighbors and friends stay to protect their places. We quickly pack a few valuable things — photo albums, laptops, wallets, and passports — and leave. My main message to friends over the years is that it’s not worth the risk — if flames are close that means that smoke and super-heated air may be close, too, and deadly.

How do you manage the stress and anxiety of fire season both here and elsewhere?

E. Austin: I manage that stress by preparing my home before fire season, relying on a small number of curated information sources rather than trying to identify reliable sources in the moment or checking multiple apps, and I try to make flexible backup plans for outdoor activities. I also suggest planning ahead to learn how to obtain and effectively use an N95 respirator to reduce exposures either at work or when outdoors for recreational activities.

SP: Fire and smoke season are stressful. I’ve dealt with some stress and anxiety not only from fast-moving wildfires but also from long-duration smoke events that feel like they will never clear. We have a strong community that is very supportive and understands how fire season can bring up some PTSD-type symptoms. We take care of our place and make sure that we have as low of risk in and around our home as possible. We also remind ourselves how very lucky we are to be able to have flexibility in our work schedules and plenty of friends and family elsewhere to be able to leave when wildfires hit close to home.

BH: Fire is an integral part of life on earth, and in regions like the Pacific Northwest, fire is a key process that will continue to shape this region well into the future. Knowing that it is not if, but when, fire will return to any given area helps me embrace the reality of fire season. Like anything in life, being informed and prepared is a great way to lower stress and anxiety that comes with uncertainty. 

The UW has dozens of experts in wildfires, smoke and related topics. To reach an expert, contact Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.

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Schizophrenia affects approximately 23 million people worldwide, with onset usually occurring during a person’s late adolescence to their 20s. Impairments associated with schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking and behavior.

Now, researchers at the University of Washington are investigating how genetic changes impact the severity of schizophrenia symptoms. A new study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, supports the idea that deletions in genes that regulate early brain and neuron development are associated with more severe features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, particularly lower cognitive abilities.

How schizophrenia manifests — and how severely — differs between patients. Poorer cognitive functioning in schizophrenia is associated with more treatment-resistant forms of the disease. Jennifer Forsyth, co-author and assistant professor of psychology at the UW, said understanding early developmental genetic factors could help identify people who could benefit from earlier, targeted inventions.

“For a subset of individuals, we may need to be thinking about how we can create treatments earlier in brain development that will help compensate for the fact that certain genes are being deleted,” Forsyth said. “Is there some kind of medication that can help with that? Down the road, could there be gene therapies for some of these individuals? I do think this research is going to be important for changing treatment direction.”

The researchers studied the DNA of more than 600 people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The team compared these results to data from patients’ relatives, people without schizophrenia and nearly 10,000 children participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. 

People with schizophrenia who carried the deletions tended to perform worse on cognitive tests — showing poorer memory, thinking and attention skills than people with schizophrenia who didn’t carry the deletions. Similar, weaker associations were also seen in the general population, which suggests these variants may influence brain development more broadly, even in individuals without schizophrenia.

The study also showed these specific genetic deletions were associated with differences in brain structure, including higher gray matter volume and cortical thickness. This is the opposite pattern researchers typically see on average in schizophrenia, Forsyth said, which again suggests variability between patients.

“This study helps us understand the specific way somebody manifests a disorder,” Forsyth said. “It’s sort of a cumulative effect of different risk profiles. We all carry tons of genetic variants, and the specific types of variants we have and how they combine is very complicated. These things aren’t totally deterministic, but I do think understanding which specific aspects of brain development are affected by the genetic variants a person carries, and how this shapes how the disorder manifests, can start to inform how we think about different treatment approaches.”

Other UW co-authors from the Department of Psychology were graduate students Jinhan Zhu, Zachary Trevorrow and Mahnoor Hyat, undergraduate research assistant Ariana Chavannes, research coordinator Sam Sievertsen and research technologist Sophie Ferreira-Ianone. Matthew Conomos, a UW senior research scientist in biostatistics, was also a co-author.

A full list of co-authors is included with the study.

This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the UCLA Brain Research Institute and the Shear Family Foundation.

For more information, contact Forsyth at jenforsy@uw.edu.

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Aspectos destacados:

• Por primera vez, la American Heart Association, la American Academy of Pediatrics (Academia Americana de Pediatría), el American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Colegio Americano de Obstetricia y Ginecología) y la Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Sociedad de Medicina Materno-Fetal) se han unido para publicar una guía conjunta que ayude a los profesionales de la salud a identificar los riesgos cardiovasculares de manera temprana y a tomar medidas.
• Esta publicación histórica, dividida en tres partes, destaca cómo la biología específica de las mujeres afecta el corazón de las niñas y las mujeres, y crea un marco denominado “Etapas de la vida de la mujer” para ayudar a proteger la salud cardíaca desde la pubertad hasta la menopausia y posteriores etapas.
• Las sociedades también abogan por una red nacional de Centros Integrales de Excelencia para la Atención Cardiovascular de la Mujer, basada en cuatro pilares: atención clínica interdisciplinaria, educación y capacitación profesional, investigación y participación comunitaria.

Prohibida su publicación hasta las 4 a. m. CT/5 a. m. ET del lunes 26 de octubre de 2026

DALLAS, 26 de octubre de 2026 — Hoy, la American Heart Association, la American Academy of Pediatrics, el American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists y la Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine dieron a conocer una publicación histórica que redefine la salud cardíaca en niñas y mujeres. Estas organizaciones definen conjuntamente cuatro “Etapas de la vida femenina” distintas, lo que ofrece a las mujeres y a los profesionales de la salud la oportunidad de entablar conversaciones sobre la salud cardíaca desde la pubertad hasta la menopausia y posteriores etapas.

Tres artículos publicados hoy en Circulation, la revista médica insignia de la American Heart Association, constituyen el primer marco coordinado e interasociativo para prevenir, detectar y manejar las enfermedades cardiovasculares entre las niñas y las mujeres. Las publicaciones trazan un camino para integrar la atención entre las especialidades clínicas que atienden a las mujeres a lo largo de sus vidas.

“Las mujeres enfrentan muchos desafíos a la hora de optimizar su salud, incluida la fragmentación de la atención entre diferentes especialidades clínicas”, afirmó la Dra. Sadiya S. Khan, M.Sc., FAHA, presidenta del grupo de redacción colaborativo y profesora Magerstadt de Epidemiología Cardiovascular en la Facultad de Medicina Feinberg de la Universidad Northwestern. “Cuatro sociedades líderes se han unido para ofrecer orientación específica para las mujeres, basándose en el reconocimiento de que la salud cardíaca de las mujeres se ve influida de manera única por transiciones biológicas que los hombres no experimentan: la menstruación, el embarazo, la perimenopausia y la menopausia”.

Según la American Heart Association, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, que incluyen las enfermedades cardíacas y los ataques o derrames cerebrales, son la principal causa de muerte entre las mujeres, cobrándose más de 400,000 vidas en los EE. UU. cada año (más que el cáncer de mama, el cáncer de pulmón y las enfermedades pulmonares crónicas juntos). Sin embargo, solo unas 4 de cada 10 (41%) mujeres las reconocen como su mayor amenaza para la salud.

“Las mujeres representan más de la mitad de la población, y su salud cardíaca debe ser parte de la atención diaria en todo el ámbito de la medicina”, afirmó la Dra. Mariell Jessup, FAHA, directora científica y médica de la American Heart Association. “Estas publicaciones brindan a los médicos y a los sistemas de salud una base común para identificar los riesgos a lo largo de la vida de una mujer”.

Por qué se necesita un nuevo enfoque

El avance en la prevención de las muertes por enfermedades cardiovasculares entre las mujeres se ha estancado en las últimas dos décadas. Para adelantarse al riesgo, el nuevo enfoque sobre la salud cardiovascular de las mujeres considera que se trata de un proceso que dura toda la vida.

Una declaración científica (sitio web en inglés) de la American Heart Association de 2026, que pronosticó la salud de las mujeres y los factores de riesgo, concluyó que, si las tendencias continúan hasta 2050, la proporción de mujeres estadounidenses de 20 años o más que padecen presión arterial alta aumentará de aproximadamente el 49% en 2020 al 59% en 2050.

Al mismo tiempo, la mortalidad materna (sitio web en inglés) ha aumentado y las enfermedades cardiovasculares son ahora la principal causa de muertes por motivos médicos durante el embarazo. La American Heart Association señala que las enfermedades cardiovasculares representan más de un tercio de la mortalidad materna en los EE. UU.

“Estas proyecciones resaltan la urgencia de hacer de la salud cardiovascular una prioridad en cada etapa de la vida de una mujer”, afirmó Khan. “Este nuevo enfoque brinda a los médicos de todas las especialidades una guía común para reconocer el riesgo más temprano, personalizar la prevención y actuar antes de que se produzca un ataque cardíaco, un ataque o derrame cerebral, o un episodio de insuficiencia cardíaca”.

Un marco de etapas de la vida de la mujer, el primero de su tipo

El marco de etapas de la vida de la mujer se basa en la biología femenina y ofrece oportunidades para prevenir las enfermedades cardíacas y los derrames cerebrales. Cada etapa de la vida se define por un cambio hormonal que experimentan de manera única las niñas y las mujeres, y el embarazo se identifica como un evento que afecta la salud cardiovascular y que puede ocurrir en una o varias etapas de la vida:

• Etapa 1: perimenarquia. Esta etapa representa la transición después de la primera menstruación. El rango de edad aproximado es de 8 a 15 años.
• Etapa 2: ciclo ovárico. Se establecen ciclos ovulatorios y hormonales regulares, y es cuando puede ocurrir un embarazo. El rango de edad aproximado es de 15 a 44 años.
• Etapa 3: perimenopausia. Esta etapa representa la transición hacia ciclos de duración variable, ciclos omitidos y cambios hormonales. El rango de edad aproximado es de 45 a 51 años.
• Etapa 4: posmenopausia. Esta etapa abarca los años que comienzan después de la menopausia o 12 meses después de la última menstruación. La edad aproximada es de 51 años en adelante.
• Embarazo, en cualquier etapa de la vida: el período anterior, durante y posterior al embarazo se destaca como una “prueba de estrés” biológica que puede identificar riesgos cardiovasculares que tal vez no se hayan detectado anteriormente.

En cada etapa de la vida, el marco adopta un enfoque holístico de la salud cardíaca de las mujeres al considerar de manera conjunta la salud cardiovascular, hormonal y emocional, señaló Khan. “Para los profesionales de la salud, este enfoque destaca que la salud cardíaca no puede entenderse observando únicamente el corazón. Debemos reconocer que la salud cardíaca de las mujeres está profundamente interconectada con la salud hormonal y emocional”.

El marco también permite una detección más temprana de los riesgos, una prevención más temprana y una mejor continuidad de la atención a partir de la infancia.

“La salud cardíaca comienza mucho antes de la edad adulta”, afirmó la Dra. Amanda Marma Perak, M.Sc., FAHA, vicepresidenta del grupo de redacción colaborativa y cardióloga pediátrica del Lurie Children’s Hospital de Chicago. “Como médicos pediatras, tenemos la oportunidad de ayudar a cada niña a comenzar con el pie derecho y de asegurarnos de que lo que aprendamos sobre su salud la acompañe a medida que crece”.

Relaciones entre la salud cardíaca, hormonal y psicosocial

• La menstruación puede ser un indicador de la salud cardíaca. Las nuevas publicaciones reconocen los patrones del ciclo menstrual como un signo vital específico de las mujeres. En concreto, el sangrado menstrual abundante o irregular puede servir como indicador temprano de riesgo cardiovascular, como el síndrome ovárico metabólico poliendocrino (SOMP) (anteriormente conocido como síndrome de ovario poliquístico o SOP).
• La perimenopausia (sitio web en inglés) es un punto de inflexión cardiovascular. Los cambios en los niveles de colesterol y en la salud metabólica durante la etapa de la perimenopausia pueden ser signos tempranos de riesgo cardiovascular. Identificar el riesgo a tiempo y tomar medidas al respecto puede reducir el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular.
• para la prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Los años posteriores a la menopausia pueden representar hasta el 40% de la vida de una mujer. La mayoría de los ataques cardíacos, los derrames cerebrales y los episodios de insuficiencia cardíaca ocurren en esta etapa, y son prevenibles en más del 80% si se toman medidas a tiempo. La posmenopausia es un momento importante
• La salud psicosocial es importante para la salud cardíaca. Las mujeres son más propensas a sufrir ansiedad, depresión y trastornos alimentarios, cada uno de los cuales puede contribuir a una mala salud cardíaca.
• Los antecedentes de embarazo son antecedentes cardíacos. Los cambios durante el embarazo pueden revelar el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular. Las complicaciones del embarazo, como la presión arterial alta, la preeclampsia, la diabetes gestacional, el parto prematuro, los bebés pequeños para la edad gestacional y los mortinatos, se reconocen como factores que aumentan el riesgo específicamente en las mujeres. La guía sobre el colesterol (sitio web en inglés) de 2026 de la American Heart Association y el American College of Cardiology ahora incluye factores relacionados con el embarazo en la evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular para las mujeres.
• La atención posparto suele ser una oportunidad perdida. Solo alrededor del 60% de las mujeres estadounidenses con complicaciones relacionadas con la presión arterial alta durante el embarazo reciben atención de seguimiento para su presión arterial alta dentro de los seis meses posteriores al parto. La American Heart Association y las sociedades colaboradoras exigen medidas inmediatas para subsanar esta brecha en la prevención.

“El embarazo y el posparto son momentos clave para evaluar la salud cardiovascular a lo largo de toda la vida. Un resultado adverso del embarazo puede revelar un mayor riesgo cardiovascular, y esa información debe guiar la atención médica mucho más allá del embarazo”, afirmó el Dr. William A. Grobman, MBA, vicepresidente del grupo de redacción y profesor de Obstetricia y Ginecología en la Escuela de Medicina Warren Alpert de la Universidad de Brown, en Providence, Rhode Island. “Esta guía elaborada por varias sociedades ofrece a los médicos que brindan atención obstétrica, ginecológica y cardiovascular un marco común para reconocer ese riesgo y tomar medidas al respecto”. Grobman también es expresidente de la Sociedad de Medicina Materno‑Fetal y decano asociado de investigación clínica en Brown.

Cómo convertir la evidencia en una atención interdisciplinaria coordinada

Las sociedades abogan por una infraestructura nacional de Centros Integrales de Excelencia para la Atención Cardiovascular de la Mujer, basada en cuatro pilares: atención clínica interdisciplinaria, educación y capacitación profesional, investigación y participación comunitaria. Las herramientas y terapias existentes ofrecen oportunidades para mejorar la salud cardiovascular en este momento, mientras que se necesita investigación para seguir abordando las brechas en la evidencia específica para las mujeres, dando prioridad a la inclusión de las mujeres en la investigación, la ampliación del financiamiento para la salud de las mujeres y la aplicación de la evidencia en la práctica.

“En las últimas décadas, la investigación ha llevado a avances sustanciales en la comprensión del riesgo específico de las mujeres frente a las enfermedades cardiovasculares”, afirmó Khan. “Hoy en día, el riesgo cardiovascular se puede identificar más temprano en las mujeres mediante estimaciones de riesgo específicas por sexo a 10 y 30 años, mediante las ecuaciones PREVENT (sitio web en inglés) de la American Heart Association. El objetivo es evaluar la salud de manera integral y longitudinal a lo largo de las etapas de la vida, identificar oportunidades de prevención más tempranas y cerrar las brechas de implementación para las mujeres”.

“Todas las niñas y mujeres merecen más años de buena salud para vivir sus vidas al máximo”, indicó Khan. “Promover la salud de las mujeres es una responsabilidad que todos compartimos. Esta inversión mejora no solo la salud de las mujeres, sino también la de sus familias y sus comunidades”.

Notas del editor

La guía conjunta sobre el manejo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares en las mujeres a lo largo de toda la vida se compone de tres documentos:

1. Aviso presidencial: un enfoque específico para las mujeres a lo largo de toda la vida para la prevención y el manejo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares; establece el concepto de las etapas de la vida de la mujer y el marco de referencia de toda la vida
2. Declaración científica: orientación de consenso para la prevención y el manejo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares específicas de la mujer; brinda orientación clínica, incluida una tabla de correspondencias entre las guías de diversas sociedades
3. Aviso científico: centros integrales de excelencia para la atención cardiovascular de las mujeres; traza un panorama actual de los centros cardiovasculares para mujeres y propone una infraestructura nacional

Todos los documentos se elaboraron por parte del grupo de redacción voluntario en nombre de la American Heart Association, la American Academy of Pediatrics, el American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists y la Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Las declaraciones científicas y los avisos de la American Heart Association promueven una mayor conciencia sobre las enfermedades cardiovasculares y los problemas de los ataques o derrames cerebrales, y ayudan a facilitar las decisiones fundamentadas sobre los cuidados de salud. En las declaraciones científicas, se describe lo que se conoce actualmente sobre un tema y las áreas que necesitan investigación adicional. Si bien las declaraciones científicas sirven de base para el desarrollo de las pautas, no constituyen recomendaciones de tratamiento. Las pautas de la American Heart Association proporcionan las recomendaciones oficiales de la Asociación para la práctica clínica.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el artículo.

La Asociación recibe más de un 85% de sus ingresos de fuentes que no son empresas. Estas fuentes incluyen contribuciones de personas particulares, fundaciones y patrimonios, así como ganancias por inversiones e ingresos por la venta de nuestros materiales informativos. Las empresas (incluidas las farmacéuticas, los fabricantes de dispositivos y otras compañías) también realizan donaciones a la Asociación. La Asociación tiene políticas estrictas para evitar que las donaciones influyan en el contenido científico y en las posturas de sus políticas. La información financiera general está disponible aquí (sitio web en inglés).

Recursos adicionales:

• En la columna derecha del enlace al comunicado se encuentra material multimedia, que incluye entrevistas en video con la Dra. Sadiya S. Khan, presidenta del grupo de redacción colaborativo— y con pacientes.
• American Heart Association Comunicado de prensa en inglés
• Infografía (PDF) en inglés: A Woman’s Heart Through Every Stage of Life - A guide to protecting your heart from your first period through menopause and beyond
  • Lo que las mujeres deben saber: infografía sobre la adolescencia​ (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in adolescence. (en inglés)
  • Lo que las mujeres deben saber: infografía sobre la etapa de la juventud adulta (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in pregnancy and postpartum. (en inglés)
  • Lo que las mujeres deben saber: infografía sobre la perimenopausia (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in midlife. (en inglés)
  • Lo que las mujeres deben saber: infografía sobre la posmenopausia​ (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health during menopause and beyond. (en inglés)
• Infografía (PDF) en inglés: My Heart & Health Checklist - Questions to think about before your next visit
• American Heart Association Comunicado de prensa en inglés:Why every stage of life matters for a woman’s heart health
• American Heart Association Noticia (en inglés)​: Why every stage of life matters for a woman's heart health 
• American Heart Association Comunicado de prensa: Se lanzará un nuevo programa de educación continua en cardiología y obstetricia-ginecología gracias a una donación de $1 millón de la Dra. Jennifer Ashton, una destacada voz en los medios de comunicación en materia de salud, y su esposo, Tom Werner (sitio web en inglés)
• American Heart Association Comunicado de prensa: Esto también nos concierne:declaración conjunta sobre la crisis de salud materna de la Association of Black Cardiologists, el American College of Cardiology y la American Heart Association (sitio web en inglés)
• Siga las noticias de la AHA/ASA en X en @HeartNews.
• Siga las noticias de Circulation, la revista insignia de la American Heart Association en @CircAHA.

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Acerca de la American Heart Association

La American Heart Association es una fuerza incansable que trabaja por un mundo con vidas más largas y saludables. La organización ha sido una fuente líder de información sobre salud durante más de cien años y su objetivo es garantizar la equidad en la salud en todas las comunidades. Con el apoyo de más de 35 millones de voluntarios en todo el mundo, financiamos investigaciones vanguardistas, defendemos la salud pública y proporcionamos recursos fundamentales para salvar y mejorar las vidas afectadas por enfermedades cardiovasculares y ataques o derrames cerebrales. Trabajamos incansablemente para promover la salud y transformar vidas cada día mediante el impulso de avances y la implementación de soluciones comprobadas en las áreas de ciencia, políticas y cuidados. Comuníquese con nosotros en heart.org (sitio web en inglés), Facebook, X o llame al 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Para consultas de los medios de comunicación: 214-706-1173

Maggie Francis; Maggie.Francis@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

Highlights:

• For the first time, the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have come together to release shared guidance to help clinicians identify cardiovascular risk early and take action.
• The landmark three-part publication highlights how female-specific biology affects girls’ and women’s hearts and creates a “Female Life Stage” framework to help protect heart health from puberty through menopause and beyond.
• The societies also call for a national network of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care, built on four pillars: interdisciplinary clinical care, professional education and training, research and community engagement.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / 5 a.m. ET, Monday, October 26, 2026

DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2026 — Today, the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a landmark publication that redefines heart health in girls and women. The organizations together outline four distinct “Female Life Stages” offering women and healthcare professionals a chance to have heart health conversations from puberty through menopause and beyond.

Three manuscripts published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal, Circulation, are the first coordinated, multi-society framework to prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular disease among girls and women. The publications outline a path to connect care across the clinical specialties that see women throughout their lives.

“Women experience their healthcare across clinical specialties, but it often is fragmented or disconnected,” said Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, chair of the collaborative writing group and Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “Specifically, these reports connect the dots for clinicians, for patients and across health domains so that care is holistic and begins in adolescence, recognizing that women’s heart health is uniquely shaped by biological transitions not experienced by men – periods, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause.”

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. each year - more than breast cancer, lung cancer and chronic lung disease combined. Yet only about 4 in 10 (41%) women recognize it as their greatest health threat.

“Women make up more than half the population, and their heart health must be a part of everyday care across medicine.” said Mariell Jessup, M.D., FAHA, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association. “These publications give clinicians and health systems a shared foundation for recognizing risk throughout a woman’s life.”

Why a new approach is needed

Progress has stalled in preventing cardiovascular deaths among women over the past two decades. To get ahead of risk, the new approach to women’s cardiovascular health views it as a lifelong process.

A 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement that forecasted women’s health and risk factors concluded that if trends continue through 2050, the proportion of U.S. women ages 20 and older living with high blood pressure will increase from approximately 49% in 2020 to 59% in 2050.

At the same time, maternal mortality has increased and cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of medical-related deaths during pregnancy. The American Heart Association notes that cardiovascular conditions account for more than one-third of maternal mortality in the U.S.

"These projections underscore the urgency of making cardiovascular health a priority at every stage of a woman’s life,” said Khan. “This new approach gives clinicians across specialties shared guidance to recognize risk earlier, personalize prevention, and act before a heart attack, stroke or heart failure event."

A first-of-its-kind Female Life Stage framework

The Female Life Stage framework is based on female biology and offers windows of opportunity to prevent heart disease and stroke. Each life stage is defined by a change in hormones that is uniquely experienced by girls and women, with pregnancy identified as an event affecting cardiovascular health that may occur at any or multiple life stages:

• Stage 1 perimenarche - This stage represents the transition around the first menstrual period. Approximate age range is 8 – 15 years.
• Stage 2 ovarian cycling - Regular ovulatory and hormone cycles are established and when pregnancy typically occurs. Approximate age range is 15 – 44 years.
• Stage 3 perimenopause - This stage represents the transition to variable cycle length, skipped cycles and hormone changes. Approximate age range is 45-51 years.
• Stage 4 postmenopause – This stage represents the years that begin after menopause or 12 months after the final menstrual period. Approximate age is 51 years and older.
• Pregnancy, in any life stage – the time before, during and after pregnancy is highlighted as a biological “stress test” that can identify cardiovascular risks that may have been previously unrecognized.

Within each life stage, the framework takes a holistic approach to women’s heart health by considering cardiovascular, hormonal and emotional health together, Khan said. “For clinicians, this approach underscores that heart health cannot be understood by looking at the heart alone. We need to recognize that women’s heart health is deeply interconnected with hormonal and emotional health.”

The framework also allows for earlier recognition of risk, earlier prevention, and better continuity of care beginning in childhood.

“Heart health begins long before adulthood,” said Amanda Marma Perak, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, vice-chair of the collaborative writing group and a pediatric cardiologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. “As pediatric clinicians, we have the opportunity to help every girl start strong and to ensure that what we learn about her health follows her as she grows.”

Heart, hormonal and psychosocial health connections

• Periods can be a marker of heart health. The new publications recognize menstrual cycle patterns as a female-specific vital sign. Specifically, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding can serve as early markers of cardiovascular risk, such as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS).
• Perimenopause is a cardiovascular inflection point. Changes in cholesterol and metabolic health during the perimenopause stage can be early signs of cardiovascular risk. Identifying risk early and acting on it may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Postmenopause is an important time for cardiovascular disease prevention. The years after menopause can represent up to 40% of a woman’s lifetime. Most heart attacks, strokes and heart-failure events occur in this stage, and they are more than 80% preventable if action is taken early.
• Psychosocial health is important for heart health. Women are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and eating disorders, each of which can contribute to poor heart health.
• Pregnancy history is heart history. Changes in pregnancy can unmask cardiovascular disease risk. Pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age infants and stillbirth, are recognized as female-specific risk enhancers. The 2026 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology cholesterol guideline now includes pregnancy-related factors in cardiovascular risk assessment for women.
• Postpartum care is often a missed opportunity. Only about 60% of U.S. women with high blood pressure-related complications during pregnancy receive follow-up care for their high blood pressure within six months of delivery. The American Heart Association and the collaborating societies call for immediate action on this prevention gap.

“Pregnancy and the postpartum period are important windows into cardiovascular health throughout the life course. An adverse pregnancy outcome can unmask increased cardiovascular risk and that information should guide care well beyond pregnancy,” said William A. Grobman, M.D., MBA, vice-chair of the writing group and professor of obstetrics & gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “This multi-society guidance gives clinicians who provide obstetric, gynecologic, and cardiovascular care a shared framework for recognizing and acting on that risk.” Grobman is also a former president of the Society for Maternal‑Fetal Medicine and associate dean of clinical research at Brown.

Translating evidence into coordinated interdisciplinary care

The societies call for a national infrastructure of Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care, built on four pillars: interdisciplinary clinical care, professional education and training, research and community engagement. Existing tools and therapies offer opportunities to improve cardiovascular health now, while research is needed to continue to address gaps in evidence specific to women by prioritizing inclusion of women in research, expansion of funding of women’s health, and translation of evidence into action.

“Over the last several decades, research has led to substantive advances in the understanding of female-specific risk of cardiovascular disease,” Khan said. “Today, cardiovascular risk can be identified earlier in women with 10- and 30-year sex-specific risk estimation using the American Heart Association PREVENT equations. The goal is to assess health comprehensively and longitudinally across life stages, identify earlier opportunities for prevention, and close implementation gaps for women.”

“All girls and women deserve more healthy years to live their fullest lives,” Khan said. “Advancing women’s health is a responsibility we all share. This investment improves not only women’s health, but also the health of their families and their communities.”

Editor's Notes

Joint guidance on the management of women’s cardiovascular disease across the life course is made up of three papers. Links will be live when the manuscripts publish online:

1. Presidential Advisory: A Female-Specific Life Course Approach to the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease – establishes the female life stage construct and life course framework
2. Scientific Statement: Consensus Guidance for the Female-Specific Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease – provides clinical guidance, including a multi-society guideline crosswalk
3. Science Advisory: Comprehensive Centers of Excellence for Women's Cardiovascular Care – maps the current landscape of women’s cardiovascular centers and proposes a national infrastructure

The papers were all prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

American Heart Association scientific statements and advisories promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association’s official clinical practice recommendations.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscripts.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia, including video interviews with Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, chair of the collaborative writing group and patients, are on the right column of the release link.
• Spanish news release
• Infographic (PDF) - A Woman’s Heart Through Every Stage of Life - A guide to protecting your heart from your first period through menopause and beyond
  • What Women Need to Know - Adolescence Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in adolescence.
  • What Women Need to Know - Young Adulthood Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in pregnancy and postpartum.
  • What Women Need to Know - Perimenopause Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in midlife.
  • What Women Need to Know - Postmenopause Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health during menopause and beyond.
• Infographic (PDF) - My Heart & Health Checklist - Questions to think about before your next visit
• American Heart Association news release: Why every stage of life matters for a woman’s heart health
• American Heart Association News story: Why every stage of life matters for a woman's heart health
• American Heart Association news release: New cardiology-OB-GYN continuing education to launch with $1 million gift from leading media voice on health Dr. Jennifer Ashton and husband Tom Werner
• American Heart Association news release: This is Our Lane - Too: Joint Statement on the Maternal Health Crisis from the Association of Black Cardiologists, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association
• Follow Association news on X @HeartNews.
• Follow news from the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation @CircAHA.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Maggie Francis; Maggie.Francis@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

What to know about women’s heart health:

• A new approach to women’s heart health looks at risk and opportunity across every stage of their life.
• Hormonal health, mental health and well-being, heart health and brain health are closely connected.
• Periods, pregnancy and the time around and during menopause can offer important opportunities to better protect heart health.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / 5 a.m. ET, Monday, October 26, 2026

DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2026 — A new approach to women’s heart health may offer them a lifetime of opportunities. A trio of scientific papers, published today in the journal Circulation, spells out how fluctuating hormones, mental health and well-being, the heart and the brain are linked and how those connections need to be a routine part of care from a young age.

“Women experience their healthcare across clinical specialties, but it often is fragmented or disconnected. Specifically, these reports connect the dots for clinicians, for patients, and across health domains so that care is holistic and begins in adolescence,” Dr. Sadiya Khan, chair of the writing group, said in a news release. Khan is the Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

“Heart disease and other forms of cardiovascular disease don’t suddenly become relevant when we become older women,” said Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, immediate past volunteer president of the American Heart Association, who helped write the reports. They view a woman’s life in distinct stages – each of which offers chances for early detection, risk factor identification and treatment, she said.

The publications are a joint effort among the Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. They represent “a paradigm shift in how we look at women’s cardiovascular and brain health,” Rosen said.

For pediatricians, primary care clinicians, endocrinologists, obstetricians, gynecologists and cardiologists, the documents offer a unified approach to cardiovascular concerns specifically for women, said Dr. Esther S.H. Kim, director of the Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Health at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also helped write the publications.

Each stage of a woman’s life offers “windows of opportunity” to prevent heart disease, she said.“We can go all the way back to adolescence and even childhood and figure out, ‘This person is at risk; we need to keep a closer eye on them,’” said Kim, who is also a professor and chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Charlotte.

For women themselves, it comes down to a simple point, said Dr. Natalie A. Cameron, an internal medicine specialist who is an assistant professor at Northwestern. She led the writing team for one of the documents and contributed to the other two.“We don’t want heart attacks and strokes to happen,” she said. By being proactive, women have opportunities to lower their risks.

Here are some of the key points from the new publications that women may want to discuss with their healthcare team to ensure their hearts are as healthy as possible.

How does heart disease differ in men and women?

The reports emphasize how hormonal health affects cardiovascular health across a woman’s life.

For years, scientists ignored the importance of hormones in women’s heart health, Rosen said, because the monthly fluctuations made research more complicated. But estrogen, estradiol and progesterone “impact cells in blood vessels, in the brain, in heart muscle,” Rosen said. They affect cholesterol levels, the stickiness of blood cells, inflammation, blood pressure and the body’s stress response.

“If you appreciate the understanding that these hormones are not just affecting the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes but affecting in a rhythmic way every part of the cardiovascular system and brain, you can appreciate why these fluctuations or issues related to these hormones in women have an enormous impact” on heart and brain health, she said.  

And while the most common cardiovascular issue in women is the same as in men – plaque buildup that narrows arteries – Kim said that women are more likely to have other serious problems. The classic image of heart disease, Kim said, is a “Homer Simpson-type of person – a middle-aged or older man with very obvious cardiovascular risk factors. But you know, Marge Simpson can also have heart disease.”

“And the heart disease that Marge could have may look different than Homer’s; things like microvascular coronary disease, which affects small blood vessels in the heart; or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, in which the heart contracts normally but fails to relax properly between beats; or spontaneous coronary artery dissection, where a heart artery suddenly tears,” Kim said.  

Doctors need to think about such conditions in women, Kim said, because they require specific diagnostic tests, “and if you don’t think of the disease processes, you won’t order the right tests, and these diseases will be missed.” And women should not be afraid to speak up, Kim said. “Know the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, and if you’re having them, talk about them,” Kim said. “And if your doctor is ignoring you, you should be persistent.”

Why the teen years matter in women’s heart health

“Heart health for women doesn’t start at menopause,” said Dr. Amanda M. Perak, an associate professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern. “Puberty is a big turning point.”

For example, details about menstrual cycles, or periods, offer a look at future heart health, said Perak, who is also a pediatric cardiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago who worked on all three publications. She said:

• A first period before age 10 is linked to a higher risk of heart disease later in life. “That’s not automatically a reason for alarm or medication,” Perak said. “It’s a reason to pay a little closer attention to healthy habits and routine checkups.”
• Irregular periods, especially along with stubborn, deep acne or unusually extra facial or body hair growth, can be a sign of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS), which has been linked to problems regulating blood sugar, diabetes and heart disease later on. “Some irregularity is expected in the first one to three years after a girl’s first period,” Perak said, “so what matters is a pattern that persists.”
• By knowing their period history, older teens can be ready to talk with their adult doctor or healthcare professional after they leave a pediatrician’s care.

“The goal isn't to worry teens about the chance of a heart attack, which are decades away for nearly all of them,” Perak said. “It’s that the teen years are when patterns get set, and it’s much easier to keep good heart health than to get it back.”

Early adulthood: What women may want to discuss with their doctors

“Women should just be aware that they can be at risk for cardiovascular disease,” Kim said. She has worked with older women who were referred to her for testing that measures plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries and were “shocked out of their minds” to see abnormal scores.

If those women had been aware of cholesterol problems, family history issues or the need for healthy habits at an earlier age, their abnormal scores might have been prevented, she said. “At every phase of life, women can ask their clinicians, ‘How can I optimize my heart health?’” Cameron said. And at every phase, the basics known as Life’s Essential 8 will be part of the answer. 

That means maintaining healthy weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels; eating a healthy diet; getting enough physical activity and quality sleep; and avoiding tobacco.

Other important questions Cameron suggested include:

• What is a normal period? Abnormalities at this age can signal higher cardiovascular risk.  
• How do contraceptive options affect heart health? Some are better for women with heart disease or cardiovascular disease risk factors.  
• If a woman is planning pregnancy, does she need any specific tests related to her history or medication adjustments?

The reports emphasize the importance of having good cardiovascular health before pregnancy. But 9 out of 10 women ages 20 to 44 have less-than-ideal heart health when they become pregnant.

After pregnancy: Why heart health still matters postpartum  

Pregnancy is often seen as a stress test for the heart. High blood pressure in pregnancy, gestational diabetes, or having a preterm birth, are linked to higher risk of heart disease later in life, Cameron said.

The first year after a pregnancy is also “a very critical time” for controlling and monitoring those risks, she said. But many women face challenges that prevent them from getting follow-up care.

The links between a woman’s mental health and their heart

For women, mental health and well-being, hormonal health and heart health are connected in many ways at every life stage.

• Mood changes, which may include symptoms of anxiety and depression, can be related to hormonal fluctuations. 
• Anxiety or depression may influence lifestyle choices. “You may exercise less or eat less healthy foods if you’re feeling very depressed,” Cameron said.
• Starting around age 12, eating disorders, which can affect future cardiovascular health, become more common in girls, Perak said.
• By age 17, girls are twice as likely as boys to be diagnosed with depression. Teens with depression are more likely to develop obesity later, Perak said, and teens with obesity are more likely to develop depression.
• Women with established cardiovascular disease are more likely to have depression and anxiety, Rosen said, while depression and anxiety can harm their cardiovascular health. 

The new series of papers call for making mental health and well-being screening a routine part of a woman’s care. 

What happens to heart health before and after menopause?

Hormones fluctuate in the years before menopause, Cameron said. “In general, as those changes are happening, women may experience increases in their low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) levels, weight gain and potentially rising blood pressure.”

It’s also a time when years of unhealthy lifestyle choices may start to catch up, and overt heart disease may emerge. Does that mean it’s time to throw in the towel and surrender to something inevitable? “The answer is an absolute, positive, emphatic no,” Rosen said. It's never too late to make healthy changes. 

But the years around menopause are a good time for a woman and her healthcare team to discuss questions such as:  

• Am I at risk for heart disease?
• What can I do about it? 
• What tests should I have?

“It's really important to know your numbers and monitor those numbers with a clinician at your annual visits, or more often” if you're actively managing blood pressure or cholesterol levels, Cameron said.

What should women know about menopause and heart health?

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s periods. But if she lives an average life span, 40% of her life is still ahead of her.

Key things a woman may want to discuss with her healthcare team, Rosen said, include:

• How do I predict my risk? A doctor may use a risk calculator, such as the American Heart Association’s PREVENT equations, to guide care.
• What can I do to address those essential risk factors?  
• Sleep, for example, is often a concern during menopause, Rosen said. Anyone having problems may want to ask, “Is this something to be concerned about and how should I be evaluated? What are treatment options?”
• What else can I do to make sure the next 40 years are as healthy as possible?

It’s never too late to do something, Rosen emphasized, noting that her mother, 87, was just put on cholesterol-lowering medications – a decision she heartily endorsed. “It’s always about opportunities,” she said.

How coordinated care can support women’s heart health

Women’s healthcare is fragmented, Cameron said. Over the course of her life, she may see a pediatrician, primary care doctor, obstetrician/gynecologist, cardiologist and psychologist. Communication is not a given, and health records do not always transfer.

The new publications spell out the need for unified care, but women can find ways to own and organize their own health journey as well, Rosen said.

“I joke with new patients, ‘You would never go to your accountant before tax season without your paperwork,’” expecting them to know your salary and what taxes you’ve paid in the past. So whether it’s in a notepad or a digital folder, Rosen encourages tracking that medical history as a way of taking an active role in care.

Cameron suggested asking anyone who sees multiple doctors if their clinicians can see each other’s medical notes and whether they’ve talked. Some of her patients have provided phone numbers to help her connect with clinicians outside of her healthcare system.

Some women are better taking such steps on behalf of others, Rosen said. A woman caring for a sick parent or child can be “a lioness” about preventive care. “Remind yourself that you’re worthy of doing that work for yourself.”

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. each year. That’s more than breast cancer, lung cancer and chronic lung disease combined. Yet only about 4 in 10 women recognize it as their greatest health threat. The American Heart Association, through its Go Red for Women initiative, aims to empower women to take charge of their heart health. Resources are available to help protect and strengthen your heart at every stage of life.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia, including survivor/patient video interview clips, is on the right column of the release link.
• Infographic (PDF) - A Woman’s Heart Through Every Stage of Life - A guide to protecting your heart from your first period through menopause and beyond
  • What Women Need to Know - Adolescence Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in adolescence.
  • What Women Need to Know - Young Adulthood Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in pregnancy and postpartum.
  • What Women Need to Know - Perimenopause Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health in midlife.
  • What Women Need to Know - Postmenopause Infographic (PDF). Learn more about supporting good heart health during menopause and beyond.
• Infographic (PDF) - My Heart & Health Checklist - Questions to think about before your next visit
• American Heart Association news release: Leading health groups redefine heart health for girls and women - Spanish news release (Oct. 26, 2026)
• American Heart Association News story: Why every stage of life matters for a woman's heart health (Oct. 26, 2026)
• American Heart Association news release: New cardiology-OB-GYN continuing education to launch with $1 million gift from leading media voice on health Dr. Jennifer Ashton and husband Tom Werner
• American Heart Association news release: This is Our Lane - Too: Joint Statement on the Maternal Health Crisis from the Association of Black Cardiologists, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews.
• Follow news from the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation @CircAHA.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Maggie Francis; Maggie.Francis@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

DALLAS, October 16, 2026 — When cardiac arrest happens, the best chance for survival often rests with the people nearby. Yet 2 in 3 people still mistakenly believe only those with special training should perform CPR, a misconception that costs lives.^[1] Today, on World Restart a Heart Day, the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative is challenging communities everywhere to make lifesaving action a social norm by helping more people realize they have the power and ability to step in during a cardiac emergency. You don't need to be a medical professional; you just need to be willing. If you see a teen or adult who has suddenly collapsed and is not breathing normally, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital in the United States, and approximately 90% of people who experience these events do not survive.^[2] Survival often depends on how quickly people nearby recognize the emergency, call 911, begin CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).^[3]

"Too many people hesitate during a cardiac emergency because they believe lifesaving action should be left to medical professionals," said Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, chief of cardiology and pharmacology at Duke University School of Medicine. "World Restart a Heart Day is a reminder that parents, neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members are often the first people on the scene. We want to create a culture where everyone has the best chance to survive because everyone is prepared—and confident—to step in and provide CPR.”

The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, is encouraging communities to join the Nation of Lifesavers on World Restart a Heart Day and create a culture where everyone has the best chance of survival.

• Learn CPR. Watch a short CPR demonstration video or take a CPR course to gain the skills and confidence to act during an emergency. CPR is not just a skill for medical professionals. Research shows that children as young as 9 can learn CPR, making it a valuable skill for the whole family.^[4]  
• Share CPR stories. Stories from survivors, rescuers and families affected by sudden cardiac arrest can inspire others to learn CPR. The Nation of Lifesavers CPR Storytelling Platform showcases CPR stories and demonstrates the difference one person can make. Share your own CPR story and apply to be a part of the 2027 Nation of Lifesavers Class, a group of survivors and rescuers, committed to sharing their stories and raising awareness.
• Advocate for a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (or CERP). Every workplace, school, sports facility and community organization should be prepared for a cardiac emergency. A CERP is a written and practiced site-specific plan that outlines exactly how an organization should respond during a cardiac emergency. CERPs help ensure staff and volunteers know their roles, understand how to activate emergency medical services, begin CPR and access an AED quickly.
• Make CPR part of your community’s culture by sharing resources and volunteering with friends, family and coworkers. Encouraging others to learn CPR and understand how to use an AED helps create communities where more people are ready to respond when needed.

Each year World Restart a Heart Day reinforces the American Heart Association's vision of creating communities where lifesaving skills and preparedness are the norm.  The long-term goal of the Nation of Lifesavers initiative is to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR. Walgreens is a proud national sponsor of Nation of Lifesavers. To learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers, visit heart.org/nation.

Additional Resources: 

• Multimedia is available on the right column of this release link. 
• 2025 CPR Guidelines Highlights
• Visit heart.org/nation to learn CPR.
• Join American Heart Association Heart Powered national grassroots network, which brings together people to share their personal stories in support of public policies that improve lives and create healthier communities at heartpowered.org/cerps
• Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF) 
• Hands-Only CPR Resources
• Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths 
• Women and CPR
• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
• Reducing Disparities for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest – Community Toolkit: English and Spanish versions available
• Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. 

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

 

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Libby.Ridenhour@Heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

[1] American Heart Association Annual CPR Perceptions Survey. Available upon request.

[2] Martin, S. S., Aday, A. W., Allen, N. B., Almarzooq, Z. I., Anderson, C. A., Arora, P., Avery, C. L., Baker-Smith, C. M., Bansal, N., Beaton, A. Z., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Currie, M. E., Elkind, M. S., Fan, W., Generoso, G., Gibbs, B. B., Heard, D. G., Hiremath, S., Johansen, M. C., . . . Palaniappan, L. P. (2025). 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A report of US and global data from the American Heart Association. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001303 

[3] Del Rios M, Bartos JA, Panchal AR, Atkins DL, Cabañas JG, Cao D, Dainty KN, Dezfulian C, Donoghue AJ, Drennan IR, Elmer J, Hirsch KG, Idris AH, Joyner BL, Kamath-Rayne BD, Kleinman ME, Kurz MC, Lasa JJ, Lee HC, McBride ME, Raymond TT, Rittenberger, JC, Schexnayder SM, Szyld E, Topjian A, Wigginton JG, Previdi JK. Part 1: executive summary: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2025;152(suppl):S284–S312.  https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001372

 [4] https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/faqs/course-faqs

 

Highlights:

• October is Menopause Awareness Month, and an estimated 6,000 women in the U.S. enter menopause every day. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement offers menopause and heart health tools and information at goredforwomen.org/menopause. The Menopause Society provides evidence-based menopause information and offers a Find a Menopause Certified Practitioner directory at menopause.org.
• Many women spend about 40% of their lives in postmenopause, making midlife a good moment to know your heart health numbers and talk with your healthcare team.
• Menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, though changes that occur during this time, including higher cholesterol levels, more body fat around the organs and stiffening blood vessels, can affect heart health.

DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2026 — An estimated 6,000 women enter menopause every day in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet many are surprised to learn that the years surrounding menopause can influence everything from sleep and mood to heart and long-term health and quality of life.

During Menopause Awareness Month, the American Heart Association and The Menopause Society are sharing four things healthcare professionals want women to know about menopause and their hearts.

“Many women spend years preparing for pregnancy and motherhood; yet receive far less information about menopause before it begins,” said Jen Ashton, M.D., M.S., an American Heart Association volunteer and board member, who is double board-certified in OB-GYN and Obesity Medicine and has a master’s degree in nutrition. “Understanding what to expect can help women feel more informed, more confident and better prepared to care for their health during this stage of life.”

The years around menopause are a good time to increase focus on your health

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in women, yet only 4 in 10 women recognize it as their greatest health threat.

Heart disease risk rises for everyone as they age. But for women, the years leading up to and after menopause are a particularly important time to pay attention to health.

Women are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke after menopause, making it even more important to focus on health before menopause and throughout the menopause transition.

While menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, health factors tied to cardiovascular risk often change during midlife, even in women with no previous history of heart-related concerns.

“Menopause represents an important opportunity for cardiovascular disease prevention,” said Chrisandra L. Shufelt, MD, MS, FACP, MSCP, current board member and past president of The Menopause Society.“ By the time women reach menopause, approximately 90% have at least one risk factor for heart disease, and we know that significant cardiometabolic changes occur during the menopause transition. This is an important window to identify risk factors early, address them proactively and help women protect their cardiovascular health for decades to come.”

Perimenopause is when you may experience the most symptoms related to the transition

Many people use the word menopause to describe a long period of change, but menopause is actually a single point in a broader transition.

Perimenopause, which means “around menopause,” can begin before a woman’s final menstrual period and often includes the most noticeable symptoms. Symptoms vary widely and may include menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, weight gain, joint pain, palpitations, brain fog and anxiety.

Because these years bring so much change, they can also be an important time to learn more about personal health and discuss concerns with a healthcare team.

Heart health can also change, even if you’ve never had a problem before

Many women enter menopause with no history of heart disease and little reason to think anything related to their heart health is changing. But this is a turning point when heart risk begins to speed up. LDL (“bad”) cholesterol tends to rise, blood vessels can stiffen. That makes this an important window to know your heart health numbers, like blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose.

Another often-overlooked factor in menopause is kidney health. According to a 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement, menopause and aging can accelerate chronic kidney disease, which is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke risk.

A study of more than 83,000 women ages 50-79 published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that after menopause, an estimated 1 in 4  may develop irregular heart rhythms, known as atrial fibrillation, during their lifetime. Stressful life events and insomnia were also noted as major contributing factors. Depression and sleep disturbances, both common during menopause, have also been linked to increased heart disease risk.

The good news is that awareness creates opportunity. Understanding these changes gives women more information to discuss with their healthcare team and more time to take steps that support long-term health.

There are tools and information to help you through one of life’s most significant changes

Women who have questions about menopause and heart health are encouraged to talk with their healthcare team about their risk factors and ways to prevent cardiovascular disease before, during and after menopause.

Experts from the American Heart Association and The Menopause Society encourage women to:

• Know their heart health numbers, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney health.
• Stay physically active.
• Enjoy healthy foods.
• Prioritize sleep.
• Manage stress.
• Learn their personal risk factors, such as those related to family history, pregnancy history or autoimmune disease.
• Talk with their healthcare team about questions or concerns.

“There is no one-size-fits-all menopause experience," said Ashton, "Every woman deserves access to information, support and resources that help her make informed decisions and feel her best."

Women can learn more from The Menopause Society at menopause.org, including how to find a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and from the

American Heart Association's Go Red for Women menopause resource center.

“Finding a clinician with expertise in menopause can make an important difference,” Shufelt says, “A menopause practitioner can help identify symptoms related to the menopause transition, provide evidence-based treatment options, and address cardiovascular, metabolic, and bone health to support a woman’s long-term health.”

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia, including a menopause and heart health infographic, is on the right column of the release link.
• Spanish news release:(link to be added)
• Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

About The Menopause Society

The Menopause Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women during the menopause transition and beyond through evidence-based education, professional resources and support for menopause care. Its multidisciplinary community includes clinicians, researchers and other experts in midlife women’s health. Learn more at menopause.org.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Johnny Johnson: johnny.johnson@heart.org  

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org