Bryan Williams

Stories

New heart attack definition corrects decades of under-diagnosis in women

As of September 2026: Welcomed the new definition as life-changing for women

For decades, the blood test for heart attacks used a single threshold for every patient. That threshold caught nearly all men having heart attacks but missed some women, because women naturally carry lower levels of the heart-injury protein troponin. The world's four leading cardiovascular organizations just agreed on the first universal definition of a heart attack, and it corrects that bias.

Updated Sep 10

Statins and the evidence gap

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Active

More than 200 million people worldwide take statins for heart health. For decades, package inserts have warned about 66 potential side effects, from memory loss to depression to muscle pain. The February 2026 Lancet analysis of 23 major clinical trials with nearly 155,000 participants found 62 of those warnings unsupported by evidence, with symptoms appearing equally in statin and placebo groups.

Updated May 29

Notable Quotes

For decades, women have missed out on accurate diagnoses and treatment. This focus on finding less common causes of heart attacks, which predominantly affect women, should help to change that.

from New heart attack definition corrects decades of under-diagnosis in women · Updated Sep 10

"These findings are hugely important and provide authoritative, evidence-based reassurance for patients. Statins are lifesaving drugs, which have been proven to protect against heart attacks and strokes." — Response to Lancet study, February 2026

from Statins and the evidence gap · Updated May 29