Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. The good news is that many cases can be prevented through awareness and a healthy lifestyle. By understanding the risks and taking proactive steps, women can improve their heart health and reduce their chances of developing heart disease.
To help raise awareness of women’s cardiovascular health, Katrina (Kat) Ascencio-Holmes, Sutter Health Chief Nurse Officer, joins a select group of women nominated by their peers to be part of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Women of Impact initiative. Woman of Impact is an extension of the AHA’s long-standing Go Red for Women movement, a platform designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
On National Wear Red Day®, Feb. 7, 2025, Woman of Impact nominees across the country started a 9-week journey to help transform women’s health. During the campaign, nominees and their Impact Teams, made of family and friends, use their passion to help educate women on the risks of heart disease and to inspire women to take charge of their health. Nominees also raise important funds that support women’s heart health.
“I’m honored to be a nominee for the Women of Impact and to help bring light to a cause that means so much to so many,” Ascencio-Holmes says. “Heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. It’s a third of our mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and coworkers. It’s a third of the women we can’t live without.”
Ascencio-Holmes, an accomplished nurse leader with 30-plus years’ experience, says her passion for AHA was developed early in her nursing career, as a member of the open-heart surgery team. For Ascensio-Homes, this campaign hits close to home.
“I know first-hand the importance of advocacy, as close family members have experienced heart-related medical conditions,” said Ascensio-Holmes. “Symptoms of heart disease in women can be different than what men might experience, which is why it’s vital that women know the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and also how we can care for ourselves through the right diet and exercise.”
Know the facts about heart disease and steps you can take to protect your health
To learn about unique symptoms of heart disease in women, view the following Q&A video between Ascencio-Holmes and Dr. Stephanie Brown, medical director of the Sutter Institute for Advancing Health Equity and emergency room physician at Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, CA.
For more information, visit AHA’s Woman of Impact.
