Understanding A Woman's Heart Means Knowing What to Look For

01.12.2012

I intuitively knew something wasn't right. I knew I wasn't imagining it.

- Reyna Robles, patient, Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Robles' heart function was impaired by a physical anomaly called a myocardial bridge, where an artery is enveloped by heart muscle. When the heart muscle contracts, blood flow through that artery is constricted, too. On the left, a contracted heart; on the right, a relaxed heart.

After many frustrating visits to doctors who told her they could find nothing wrong, Robles found Jennifer Tremmel, MD, who leads the Women's Heart Health at Stanford Program. 

What we have found is that stress tests, and even angiograms, may not always identify the problem.

- Jennifer Tremmel, MD, Clinical Director, Women's Heart Health at Stanford

We pride ourselves in taking the time to really figure out what's going on, and not just saying there are no blockages.

- Jennifer Tremmel, MD, Clinical Director, Women's Heart Health at Stanford

As she recovers from surgery to reroute an artery covered by heart muscle, Robles has returned with gusto to cooking, much to the appreciation of her husband, Martin. 

Close