Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in California. Over 80% of these deaths are preventable. Prioritizing maternal cardiovascular health not only protects mothers—it strengthens families and our communities.
WHY IT MATTERS
Despite being the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., heart disease remains an overlooked cause of pregnancy associated deaths. Cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease don’t just pose immediate pregnancy risks, they increase lifelong health concerns.
Heart Health at Warp Speed
Throughout the year, we will collaborate with partners across the state to improve early detection and coordination of cardiovascular care in maternal health using existing technologies.
VenusHacks 2026
The Office of the California Surgeon General partnered with the University of California, Irvine’s (UCI) VenusHacks 2026, UCI’s largest women-centric hackathon that brought together 150 participants with 16 interdisciplinary teams to create innovative solutions in tech. Throughout the two-day hackathon, teams developed a wide range of technology-driven solutions, including mobile apps, web platforms, AI-powered risk assessment tools, wearable integrations, education platforms, advocacy resources, and clinical support systems.
LEARN MORE
California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos sponsored a health-related track using pregnancy and postpartum care as opportunities to improve and protect women’s long-term heart health. These projects focused on helping pregnant and postpartum individuals recognize warning signs, monitor symptoms, communicate with providers, and access care. Common themes included prevention, accessibility, health equity, patient empowerment, and improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes for women.
1st Place – Kairos
A maternal cardiovascular health platform that connected wearable devices, symptom tracking, family health history, mental health tools, and self-advocacy resources to support earlier identification of cardiovascular concerns during pregnancy and postpartum care.
2nd Place – HeraHealth
A maternal health toolkit combining symptom monitoring, wearable tracking, bilingual education, nutrition guidance, clinic navigation, and provider reporting tools to support proactive and preventative cardiovascular care.
3rd Place – Heart2Heart
A clinical trial matching platform dedicated to making maternal heart research more inclusive. Patients simply scan their medical documents, and our technology translates the complex data into easy-to-understand insights. From there, users are instantly connected to clinical trials and treatment studies tailored directly to their diagnosis.
Improving Cardiovascular Health Summit
In February 2025 during American Heart Month, the Office of the California Surgeon General convened leaders from healthcare, technology, and community organizations to drive new and innovative solutions. Discussions emphasized the need for culturally responsive care, improved coordination, and innovative tools to reduce preventable maternal deaths. This issue brief highlights key insights and opportunities for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and implement scalable solutions that save lives.
Cardiovascular and Maternal Health
In this episode of Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos, an audio series where health meets real talk, explore the intersection of cardiovascular health and maternal health with Dr. Afshan Hameed, a board-certified cardiologist and obstetrician who specializes in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies.
Pregnancy and Heart Disease
Are you at risk for heart disease during or after pregnancy? Heart disease can have immediate pregnancy and postpartum risks and can cause life-long health concerns. The California Department of Public Health can help you understand your risk, symptoms, and conditions as well as what you should do and ways to manage your heart disease.
Life's Essential 8 for Pregnancy
Lifelong cardiovascular health starts before birth. A mother’s heart health plays a vital role in shaping her baby’s long-term well-being, and early-life health challenges can carry into adulthood. The American Heart Association‘s Life’s Essential 8™ for Pregnancy guidelines can help you support heart health during pregnancy and in the crucial weeks after birth.
Women and Heart Disease
Even though heart disease tends to strike later in life, it can happen at any age. There are things about being a woman that can make you more prone to heart problems. You can help protect your heart by adopting heart-healthy habits. The American College of Cardiology can help you learn more about coronary artery disease in women.