Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program
The Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center cares for women of all ages through prevention and early detection of heart disease.
- Request an appointment or referral
- Phone: 866-MGH-8910
Our Approach
Our Doctors
The Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital provides a unique clinical service – cardiac care designed specifically for women. Because there are differences in the way men and women present heart disease, it is important to have specialists fluent in diagnosing and treating female patients.
This dedicated clinic focuses on all aspects of cardiology, from preventive approaches to complex conditions. Specialists meet with women of all adult ages to discuss their current condition or their risk for heart disease.
A Multidisciplinary Team
Once a patient enters the program, she is assigned a health care team that includes a cardiologist, nurse and nutritionist to help make necessary lifestyle changes to lower her cardiovascular risks and stay healthy. Should a patient need surgery, a cardiac surgeon also becomes part of the team.
Specialists guide patients every step of the way to ensure they receive the best possible care. Patients are also directed to wellness programs both on-site and within their own communities. Such programs include:
- Nutrition counseling
- One-on-one exercise sessions
- Stress management and relaxation training
- Smoking cessation programs
- Other specialized cardiac programs within the Heart Center
Tests and Procedures
At the first visit to the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program, physicians ask patients questions about their personal and family medical history. Specialists then assess basic risk factors by checking:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Blood sugar
- Framingham risk assessment for women
- Body mass index (BMI)
If these initial tests show that a patient is at risk, physicians might schedule further testing. Additional tests include:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) - This test is an electrical tracing of the heart rhythm. Specialists perform an EKG to determine whether or not there is any evidence of a rhythm disturbance or prior heart attack
- Exercise Electrocardiogram - This test evaluates how a woman's heart responds to the increased demands of exercise. It gives information about level of fitness and is a good screening test for coronary artery disease. This can be done alone or paired with an imaging test such as nuclear scanning or echocardiography
- Echocardiogram - An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart and provides a great deal of information about the function of the heart muscle and valves. It can show whether or not an individual has had a prior heart attack or heart changes caused by high blood pressure
- Cardiac CT - This test examines the coronary arteries and provides information about the calcium content of the coronary arteries and whether or not significant blockages are present in the arteries
About This Program
Since February of 2006, the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program has addressed heart disease in women. This unique program has a close relationship with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, an initiative that encourages awareness and action among women in the fight against heart disease.
Advocates for Preventing Heart Disease Our specialists engage in advocacy efforts to prevent heart disease in women. Several of these efforts include:
- Educating women and health care providers about heart disease in women and improving women's heart health
- Promoting research to benefit women with cardiovascular disease
- Identifying gender-based disparities in cardiovascular care and using these findings to improve outcomes for women with heart disease
Malissa Wood, MD, recently launched the HAPPY Heart program to improve the heart health of women served by the Mass General Hospital Revere and Chelsea HealthCare Centers. In an effort to reduce heart disease in low-income women, the program includes screenings and aggressive primary prevention techniques, such as exercise, smoking cessation and stress reduction.
Access to Advanced Treatments
Specialists at the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program focus on all aspects of heart care from prevention to early detection and treatment. Our patients have access to the most advanced diagnostics and treatments available throughout the Heart Center.
Care in a Comfortable Environment
The clinic itself is based at 25 New Chardon Street in Boston, Massachusetts. This off-site clinic offers a warm, comfortable atmosphere for our patients. The space includes:
- A fully-equipped exercise room with treadmills and weightlifting equipment
- A meditation room where specialized nurses offer cardiac yoga
- A comfortable space dedicated to nutrition counseling and education
Conditions and Diseases
The care team at the Heart Center encourages all patients and family members to learn more about conditions and diseases that affect the heart and overall cardiovascular system. The links below provide more information about heart conditions and diseases that might be treated within this program.
Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris (or simply angina) is recurring chest pain or discomfort that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are heart rhythm disorders that may originate in the atria (the receiving chambers of the heart) or the ventricles (the pumping chambers of the heart).
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia where the electrical signals in the atria (the two small chambers of the heart) are fired in a very fast and uncontrolled manner.
Cardiac Sarcoma
Cardiac sarcoma is a type of tumor that occurs in the heart. Cardiac sarcoma is a primary malignant (cancerous) tumor.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively.
Chest Pain / Heart Attack Symptoms
A heart attack occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects occur when the heart or related blood vessels do not develop properly before or at birth.
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease occurs when cholesterol builds up within the walls of the heart’s arteries (coronary arteries), forming what is called plaque.
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when one or more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged lack of oxygen caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.
Heart Failure
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the needs of the body's other organs.
Heart Murmur
Heart murmurs are additional sounds made by blood flowing through the heart as it beats. Many murmurs are harmless (innocent), but some abnormal murmurs might signal a heart problem.
Heart Valve Diseases
The heart’s valves can have one of two malfunctions - regurgitation (when the valve does not completely close) or stenosis (a narrowing of the valve).
High Blood Pressure / Hypertension
Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other health care provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome significantly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke.
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse, also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome, is the bulging of one or both of the mitral valve flaps (leaflets) into the left atrium during the contraction of the heart., also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome, is the bulging of one or both of the mitral valve flaps (leaflets) into the left atrium during the contraction of the heart.
Obesity
Being obese increases the risk for many diseases, especially heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac (membrane) that surrounds the heart.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
A thoracic aortic aneurysm, also called TAA, is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the thoracic aorta (the largest artery in the body), resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough, or to properly use, insulin.
Support and Wellness
Mass General is dedicated to ensuring that people understand their health care choices and have the necessary information to make decisions affecting their health and well being. The related support and wellness information listed below can play a role in treatment options.
Guide to Cardiac Surgery
The Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offers a patient guide to cardiac surgery. Our dedicated clinicians believe it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after your surgery.
Guide to Cardiac Catheterization
The Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offers a patient guide to cardiac catheterization. Our dedicated clinicians believe it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after a cardiac catheterization.
Guide to Cardiac Anesthesia
The Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offers a patient guide to cardiac anesthesia. Our dedicated clinicians believe it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after a cardiac anesthesia.
The following related clinical trials and research studies are currently seeking participants at Massachusetts General Hospital. Search for clinical trials and studies in another area of interest.
Risk factors for heart disease
Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of heart disease and high cholesterol. Learn what you can do to overcome your risk for heart disease.
Elizabeth Anne and Karen Barlow Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program
55 Fruit Street and25 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 866-MGH-8910
Public Transportation Access: yes
Disabled Access: yes
Request an appointment at the Heart Center 
Call the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center outpatient access nurse at 866-MGH-8910
