A new book by Beverly Hills cardiologist Arash Bereliani, MD, FACC, aims to close a persistent gap in public awareness: the fact that heart attack symptoms often present differently in women than in men. Titled 'What About Her Heart,' the book is now available on Amazon and focuses on how cardiovascular disease manifests in women, a population that has been historically underrepresented in cardiac research.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, yet studies consistently show that women are less likely than men to recognize their own symptoms or receive a timely diagnosis. Dr. Bereliani, a board-certified cardiologist with fellowship status from the American College of Cardiology, wrote the book to translate clinical realities into accessible language for a general readership.
The book covers the full spectrum of cardiovascular risk in women, from early warning signs that are frequently overlooked or attributed to other conditions, to serious diagnoses such as congestive heart failure. Instead of focusing on the classic chest-clutching, left-arm-pain narrative, the book examines how women often present with pressure, nausea, jaw discomfort, fatigue, and shortness of breath—symptoms that do not always prompt an immediate emergency response.
'What About Her Heart' is structured to serve women seeking to understand their own cardiac risk, as well as their family members and caregivers. Dr. Bereliani draws on his clinical experience to explain how hormonal changes across a woman's lifespan—including pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause—interact with cardiovascular health and elevate risk in ways that remain underappreciated in routine medical settings.
The book also addresses women heart attack warning signs that research suggests are underreported during emergency presentations, including atypical discomfort patterns that can delay treatment. A dedicated section covers how congestive heart failure progresses and responds to treatment differently in women compared to men.
'Women account for nearly half of all heart disease deaths in the U.S. each year, yet the majority of cardiovascular research published before 2000 was conducted primarily on male subjects,' said Dr. Bereliani. 'This book exists because a woman sitting in a waiting room or talking to her daughter deserves access to the same level of detail I would give a patient in my office.'
The book is available now on Amazon in ebook format. Its release comes as cardiologists and patient advocacy organizations increasingly call for public education efforts directed at women, particularly in communities where access to specialist care is limited. Dr. Bereliani has practiced in Beverly Hills for more than two decades and has contributed to patient education initiatives on cardiovascular risk reduction. More information is available at the Beverly Hills Institute for Cardiology & Preventive Medicine.
