Endocrine Enigmas: Female Cardiovascular Health Throughout the Lifespan

AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology has been championing women’s health research for many years, and in 2021 launched a special call for papers, which later became a standing collection in the journal, that has amassed over 100 peer reviewed publications focused on women’s cardiovascular health. In 2024 the American Physiological Society launched the Women’s Health Research Initiative aimed at addressing critical scientific gaps underlying health conditions that uniquely impact women. In this episode, Dr. Jason Carter (Baylor College) interviews authors Jenna Stone (McMaster University), Dr. Maureen McDonald (McMaster University), and Dr. Kerrie Moreau (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) about their recent Review article published as part of the Women’s Health Research Initiative. Stone et al. discuss how traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors have been historically misidentified in females, the importance of certain metrics such as arterial stiffness and vascular endothelial function, and how early risk indicators are impacted during premenopausal period, pregnancy, and menopause. Ready to learn more? Listen now.

Jenna C. Stone, Margie H. Davenport, Kerrie L. Moreau, Kyra E. Pyke, Megan M. Wenner, Jennifer S. Williams, and Maureen J. MacDonald Endocrine enigmas: vascular health in females throughout the lifespan Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published November 11, 2025. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00412.2025