At the Heart of Resilience: Empowering Women's Agency in Navigating Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women globally, emphasizing the need for a healthcare approach that empowers women through agency. This review focuses on the critical role of women's agency in navigating CVD, integrating insights from various fields, including medicine, education, psychology, and sociology. The review highlights the shift toward patient-centred care, a framework in which women are recognized as key decision-makers, a crucial change given the historical underemphasis on women's health issues in medical practice. The diagnosis of CVD in women often involves emotional and psychological challenges. Unexpected diagnoses significantly disrupt perceived well-being, and prolonged diagnostic processes lead to professional skepticism and neglect of symptoms, resulting in delayed or inaccurate diagnoses and strained healthcare relationships. Effective management of CVD necessitates continuous self -management and a holistic approach to care, particularly for those with trauma who are at increased risk of cardiac incidents. Empow- erment for women with CVD involves promoting self-confidence, au- tonomy, and active patient participation in healthcare. Implementing comprehensive care models is crucial for improving chronic CVD management, highlighting the need for healthcare systems that pri- oritize patient agency and empowerment. From the perspective of a woman with lived experience, this article examines the impact of CVD on women's agency throughout the diagnostic journey. By highlighting women's agency rather than particular behavioural changes, this re- view offers a comprehensive analysis that can shape policy, stimulate new research, and foster a more equitable, efficient, and empathetic healthcare system for women with CVD.