Work is health … Liking has lead in the wing: in terms of female health, serious or less serious illnesses occur for half between 20 and 64 years highlighting a recent report of the McKinsey Health Institute for the World Economic Forum. In other words, they appear in full active life.
Other speaking data noted by the consulting firm: they are 450 million around the world to be exposed to menopause or perimenopause. THE ” walk To compensate for the effects of these two diseases is estimated between 120 and $ 230 billion. However, only 3% of Healthtech funds are lifted for women’s health.
These alarming statistics do not surprise Professor Claire Mounier-Vehier. Service chef at the Lille Heart Institute, this renowned cardiologist is the co-founder to act for the hearts of women, endowment funds working for increased prevention of cardiovascular diseases. She is also the author of My fight for the hearts of women, act before it is too late (Marabout, 2019).
Despite a longer life expectancy, women spend 25% of their existence in poor health, according to a report by the consulting firm McKinsey for the World Economic Forum. What does this statistic inspire you?
Claire Mounier-Véhier: It is edifying, of course. It also confirms the conclusions of the France public health report on cardiovascular diseases, highlighting that women are less well detected and treated.
This is also reflected in the investigation thatAct for the hearts of women just led with OpinionWay. One in three women shifts her medical appointments. More specifically, only 40% do their mammograms in time. For what ? The fear of having cancer … but fear does not avoid danger. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.
Another reason for the postponement of these meetings: the lack of time. Always this famous mental charge … But, you have to take care of yourself! Men consult more. And they don’t have the same perception of pain as women. Between childbirth and rules, we are more used to it … and therefore more resistant!
In summary, we are too hard with ourselves. Myself, my hypertension was detected by my gynecologist, at a stressful period. I was not self-diagnosed: hence the important thing to consult.
For these reasons, we have published a self-questionnaire on the site ofAct for the hearts of women. It identifies alert signals and better prepare your appointments. The idea: no longer postpone them.
Lack of time and fear of diagnosis … If women must adjust their behavior in relation to screening, funding and research, still little oriented towards female health, are also to be emphasized.
Claire Mounier-Vehier: Obviously ! I was faced with this phenomenon. In 2020, when I launched the CHU de Lille the coordinated heart-female care course, aimed at treating cardiovascular diseases in a holistic manner, including the gynecological parameter. I have encountered many internal resistances. Some persist. I was told that women’s health was just ” A fashionable theme. But I remind you that it is impacted by specific hormonal situations.
For example, at the center of the balance sheets of the Heart Institute, we have set up remote monitoring channels for breast cancers. Many see their heart damaged by treatments (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). I try to convey these ideas by annexed paths, especially during medical congresses.
Another revealing example: a 30 -year -old woman, with family history of stroke, suffers from a torticollis. In a young woman, this can hide dissection of the vertebral or carotid artery. The physiotherapist who manipulated it did not identify this risk. Result: aggravated dissection, massive stroke to which was added a thrombus (Editor’s note of blood), arising from contraception with estrogen. This led to three years of hospitalization. According to Opinion Way, only 65% of women know that taking contraceptive hormones is a risk factor.
In initial training, cardiovascular diseases in women remain little discussed. But students are more and more interested in it, especially in prevention and female health.
This joins one of your pivot messages: going from a curative health system to a preventive system.
Claire Mounier-Véhier: Yes, and this, even though we have an aging population, prey to multiple comorbidities … It is dramatic on the human level … and extremely expensive for public finances! Nordic countries have understood this. In Denmark or Sweden, prevention is central.
Here are simple figures that demonstrate it: the cost of a cardiovascular assessment, like that of our heart-artery-female program which has spread in several hexagonal hospitals, revolves around 800 euros. Such an appointment comes after a gynecological consultation during which fatigue or a specific cardiovascular risk factor has been identified (high tension, high cholesterol or coronary heredity, etc.). Generally, this identification appointment avoids the first accident, while fixing ad hoc monitoring consultations. In parallel, in 2021, the average cost of an acute coronary accident is 10,096 euros per patient; 14120 euros in the case of a stroke … not to mention the cost of follow -up and therapy in the medium and long term.
Half of the health issues weigh on women between 20 and 64 years old … when they work! Do you observe an awareness of companies on this point?
Claire Mounier-Vehier: It is very relative … and that is all the challenge of the action of our foundation. We created it in 2020 with Thierry Drilhon, administrator and business manager. Our action revolves around a central idea: prevention is not a cost, but an investment.
Our action is based exclusively on patronage and generosity of the public. Since 2025, we have been deploying days of the heart of women in business allowing women to benefit from a cardiovascular and gynecological location and to become aware of the importance of being healthy.
In addition, we also work to raise awareness of the public authorities. With Act for the hearts of womenwe organized last May a day of risk identification in the National Assembly, offered to all the women who work there, from those who maintain offices to the deputies. Such an action sends a strong signal: women’s health must become a collective priority.
Crucial screening: we know little, but infarction kill eight times more women than breast cancer … What are risky behaviors?
Claire Mounier-Véhier: Indeed: in France, two hundred women die every day from a cardiovascular accident. The first cause remains stroke, followed, in under 60s, by myocardial infarction and heart failure …
In 8 out of 10 cases, cardiovascular disease stems from lifestyle. Certain risk factors have increased in the past fifty years: tobacco, stress, sedentary lifestyle … Heredity plays a role in only 30% of cases. Taking contraception, coupled with tobacco, stress or a large workload, can be deleterious, even a source of infarction and stroke in young women.
A recently crossed case illustrates my words: that of this 37 -year -old Parisian, stressed by her work, under contraception and smoker. There were cases of cardiovascular diseases in his family. One evening, she feels bad, is crushed by her work. She cancels an evening with her friends, explaining that she is very tired and oppressed … Her spouse finds her dead in her bathroom the next morning. The autopsy revealed that it was the victim of a coronary dissection: in other words, its artery has been duplicated in two. This is one of the specific forms of the infarction of women under the age of 45.
What are the imperatives to integrate into our lifestyle in order to limit the occurrence of cardiovascular accidents?
Claire Mounier-Vehier: It is important to sleep at least six hours a night. If this is not the case, it is necessary to compensate by a nap. I also advocate cardiac coherence, the practice of slow breathing, in order to set the record straight and manage its stress.
During the day, it is important to combat sedentary lifestyle (that is to sit at least six hours a day), getting up every two hours. It is crucial to make thirty minutes of physical activity per day: walking can do the trick. Also favor the fact of taking the stairs. Finally, clearing up by going twice a week to a gym does not thwart the effects of sedentary lifestyle.
These simple gestures are fundamental to preserving your cardiovascular health, but more broadly, they must be integrated as pillars of female health, still too often overlooked in prevention policies.
Claire Bauchart
