Women's Heart Program for the Burbank area and  greater Los Angeles 

Dr. Lisa Matzer, one of the few preventive female cardiologists in Burbank and Los Angeles,  has been recognized by the American Heart Association, the Glendale City Council, and numerous other organizations as an expert in the field of women and heart disease.

Every year, more women die from heart disease than from breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. Sadly, many women don’t understand their risk for heart disease. Although heart disease affects both males and females almost equally, women often have different symptoms and respond differently to treatment than men do.

Evaluation and treatment needs to be specifically tailored for each individual woman. As a female cardiologist, Dr. Matzer’s goal is to improve the heart health of women of Burbank and Los Angeles by offering evidence-based, personalized, and comprehensive care specifically geared towards women.

What makes women different?

Chest pains in women are often attributed to causes other than coronary heart disease.(See newspaper article quoting Dr. Matzer). Women sometimes have atypical chest pain, or abdominal pain and nausea, difficulty breathing or fatigue as the symptoms of a heart disease. These atypical symptoms make it more difficult to diagnose heart disease in women. Symptoms of heart disease in women may include:

• Sweating, Vomiting
• Palpitations
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Dizziness or fainting
• Unusual fatigue
• Anxiety or sense of impending doom
• Chest discomfort, pressure or burning
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Nausea or indigestion not relieved by antacids
• Pain or weakness in the shoulder (blades), back, neck, arm, jaw or all over the body

Your initial women's heart assessment with Dr. Matzer may include:

• health history
• female cardiac risk assessment
• family history of cardiovascular disease
• women's cardiovascular physical exam including women's heart rate
• education about your individual cardiovascular risk factors
• blood tests, including lipids and glucose
• development of an individualized plan

Further diagnostic evaluation if needed: women with symptoms suggestive of female cardiovascular disease may require further diagnostic testing, ranging from non-invasive stress testing to a cardiac catheterization. Some diagnostic tests, such as the exercise stress test, may not be as accurate in women. Unfortunately, many cardiologists who are not expert in treating women do not realize this. Dr. Matzer is a board-certified female cardiologist who has special training in the the non-invasive cardiac testing for women.

Risk management with a Women's Cardiology Program:

Whether or not you are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, managing your female cardiovascular risk factors is of critical importance to prevent progression of your disease or future cardiovascular events. Our cardiology program designed for females in Burbank and Los Angeles will help guide you in making healthy lifestyle changes and becoming an active participant in your own cardiovascular health. Risk factors that can be modified by lifestyle modification, or medication if necessary, include:

• High Blood Pressure 
• Inactivity
• Diabetes
• Weight
• Stress
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet

Have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.