University Health’s Women’s Heart Center—the first of its kind in South Texas—is filling a gap in the San Antonio-area health care community.
More women are more likely to die from a heart attack than breast cancer, which is why Dr. Ildiko Agoston, a cardiologist at University Health, founded the Women’s Comprehensive Health Institute at the Medical Arts and Research Center and later became the inaugural medical director of University Health Women’s Heart Center.
“More than 15 years ago, I knew that women needed special attention to their hearts,” Agoston said.
The women’s heart center, located in Babcock Tower II, Ste. 110 at 2833 Babcock Road, sees adult women age 18 and older for various heart diseases. Agoston said they see patients experiencing spontaneous coronary artery dissection and stress cardiomyopathy. She also said the center sees women who are going through chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer or ovarian cancer.
University Health Women’s Heart Center opened in May 2025 and recently moved to a designated clinic location in April. Agoston said cardiologists and mid-level providers in the clinic are women.
Why it matters
Agoston said women can also present late during a heart attack. Instead of experiencing chest pain, heart attacks in women are usually accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue or indigestion.
There are also special heart attack risk factors associated with being a woman. For example, women can become pregnant, which can lead to preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, Agoston said.
She also said women have smaller hearts and smaller arteries, which means they are less likely to receive a stent due to their “coronary anatomy.”
Staying prepared
Agoston encourages women to schedule a baseline evaluation with their primary care physician to check their cholesterol and sugar levels.
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