A Beverly Hills cardiologist has released a book aimed at closing a persistent awareness gap in women's heart disease. 'What About Her Heart,' written by Arash Bereliani, MD, FACC, addresses how cardiovascular disease presents differently in women compared to men, a distinction often overlooked in public education. The book is available on Amazon and targets the documented gap in understanding female heart attack signs.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, yet research shows women are less likely to recognize cardiac symptoms or receive timely diagnoses. Dr. Bereliani, a board-certified cardiologist and fellow of the American College of Cardiology, wrote the book to translate clinical insights into accessible language. It covers early warning signs frequently dismissed as unrelated conditions, such as pressure, nausea, jaw discomfort, fatigue, and shortness of breath, diverging from the classic chest-clutching narrative associated with male patients.
The book explores how hormonal changes across a woman's lifespan—including pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause—interact with cardiovascular health, elevating risk in ways underappreciated in routine medical settings. It also examines women heart attack warning signs that research suggests are underreported during emergencies, including atypical discomfort patterns that can delay treatment. A dedicated section addresses congestive heart failure in women, highlighting differences in progression and treatment response compared to men.
'Women account for nearly half of all heart disease deaths in the U.S. each year, yet the majority of cardiovascular research published before 2000 was conducted primarily on male subjects,' said Dr. Bereliani. 'This book exists because a woman sitting in a waiting room or talking to her daughter deserves access to the same level of detail I would give a patient in my office.'
The publication arrives amid increased calls for public education efforts directed at women, especially in communities with limited access to specialist care. Dr. Bereliani, who has practiced interventional and preventive cardiology for over two decades, extends his patient education work beyond the clinical setting with this book. More information is available at the Beverly Hills Institute for Cardiology & Preventive Medicine.
