Go Red for Women: Protecting Women’s Hearts in Imaging & Interventional Care
Every February, Go Red for Women® shines a spotlight on a critical reality: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, yet it is still widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Go Red for Women is about education, advocacy, and action—empowering women to understand their risks, recognize symptoms, and receive the care they need. But it’s also an important moment to recognize the healthcare professionals—many of them women—who care for heart patients every day, often while facing occupational health risks of their own.
Heart Health Looks Different for Women. Heart disease doesn’t always present the same way in women as it does in men. Women are more likely to experience:
- Atypical or subtle symptoms
- Delayed diagnosis
- Different risk profiles related to hormones, pregnancy, and menopause
This makes accurate imaging, timely intervention, and safe diagnostic environments especially important in women’s cardiovascular care. From echocardiography and CT to fluoroscopy-guided procedures and interventional cardiology, imaging plays a vital role in diagnosing and managing heart disease in women.
Where Imaging, Intervention, and Radiation Safety Intersect. Cardiology and interventional imaging environments often rely on Fluoroscopy, C-arms, and prolonged imaging procedures. While essential, they also expose clinicians and patients to ionizing radiation, particularly during long and/or complex cases. Women make up a significant portion of cath lab staff, Interventional radiology teams, Cardiovascular technologists, and Nurses and imaging professionals These professionals often spend hours in lead aprons, balancing patient care with personal health risks such as musculoskeletal strain and cumulative radiation exposure. Properly fitted radiation protection, thoughtful garment selection, and consistent safety practices help ensure that those caring for women’s hearts are protected too.
Protection Is Part of Prevention. At Z&Z Medical, we believe that protection is an extension of prevention. That means supporting Radiation protection solutions designed for comfort and performance. Safety practices that reduce unnecessary exposure, and Awareness initiatives that prioritize long-term health. Go Red for Women reminds us that heart health isn’t a single day or diagnosis—it’s a lifelong commitment. And that commitment includes protecting the people behind the imaging equipment, the procedures, and the care.
This Go Red for Women Day we proudly stand with clinicians, patients, and advocates working to Raise Awareness that may Improve Outcomes and Protect women’s hearts—inside and outside the imaging suite.