Doctors’ Insights: How Personalized Testing at Saffron & Sage Transforms Women’s Heart Care
Author: Dr. Kolin Durrant, Integrative Care Director, Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Yet most testing, research, and treatment models were designed with men in mind. As a result, early signs in women are often missed or misinterpreted. Fatigue, disrupted sleep, nausea, jaw pain, and shortness of breath may appear long before chest discomfort.
At Saffron and Sage in San Diego, we are working to change that. Our team uses a proactive, data-informed approach that focuses not only on physical symptoms but also on the biological and lifestyle patterns that influence long-term risk. Personalized testing allows practitioners to uncover what standard exams often miss. Rather than reacting to symptoms after they occur, we begin heart care with prevention and early detection.
The Gender Gap in Heart Care
Only 38 percent of participants in cardiovascular studies are women, according to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. This lack of representation affects diagnostic accuracy, treatment protocols, and overall outcomes. Women frequently receive delayed care simply because their symptoms do not align with traditional male-based models.
Holistic practitioners at Saffron and Sage go beyond routine screenings. We evaluate hormonal shifts, inflammation, metabolic patterns, stress load, and sleep quality. These data points often reveal the earliest signs of cardiovascular imbalance before disease is formally diagnosed.
Perimenopause and menopause increase risk as estrogen levels decline. This hormonal shift affects vascular tone, blood pressure, and lipid balance. Personalized testing helps us recognize these changes early and intervene before damage accumulates.
The Role of Personalized Testing in Women’s Heart Health
Conventional cardiovascular testing tends to focus on surface-level data. At Saffron and Sage, we integrate functional diagnostics that offer a more complete picture. Our team uses advanced lab testing to assess inflammation, lipid particle size, insulin regulation, and hormone function.
Markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and fasting insulin patterns offer more accurate risk insight than standard cholesterol numbers alone. Lipid panels that measure LDL particle size show whether these molecules are dense and inflammatory or light and neutral. Hormone testing reveals how cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone affect cardiovascular regulation.
By connecting lab values with lifestyle, genetic predisposition, and stress response, we empower women to understand their unique cardiovascular risks before symptoms appear.
Why Sleep Quality Matters for Heart Health
A study of nearly 3,000 women found that fewer than one in five had optimal cardiovascular scores. One of the biggest contributors to poor scores was inadequate sleep. Even when diet and physical activity were strong, lack of restorative sleep disrupted blood pressure, glucose levels, and inflammatory markers.
Hormonal shifts in midlife can make sleep more fragile. Night sweats, anxiety, and circadian disruption all affect cardiovascular recovery. Strategies such as earlier bedtimes, limiting alcohol in the evening, and morning sunlight exposure can significantly improve outcomes.
At Saffron and Sage, we treat sleep as a vital sign. We integrate sleep therapy into care plans that support cardiovascular repair and resilience over time.
Stress and Inflammation: A Dangerous Combination
Chronic stress is more than emotional strain. It has measurable effects on cardiovascular function. According to research in Psychosomatic Medicine, stress can increase the risk of cardiovascular events by up to 40 percent.
Many women juggle multiple demands from work, caregiving, emotional labor, and hormonal fluctuation. Elevated cortisol disrupts glucose metabolism and increases systemic inflammation. This ongoing burden contributes to vascular damage.
Therapies such as acupuncture, breathwork, somatic therapy, and mindfulness are essential parts of care at Saffron and Sage. They reduce physiological stress, lower cortisol levels, and enhance cardiovascular recovery.
Nutrients and Hormonal Factors That Influence Heart Function
Micronutrient deficiencies are often missed in routine labs. Yet nutrients such as magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and CoQ10 play a critical role in blood pressure, vascular tone, and cardiac rhythm. The Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism links magnesium deficiency with arterial stiffness, particularly in women.
Hormonal decline also plays a significant role. Estrogen helps maintain vascular flexibility and optimal lipid profiles. As levels decline, the risk of cardiovascular strain increases. Our team uses hormone mapping to determine how these changes are affecting cardiovascular health and to guide nutrition and therapy accordingly.
Key Personalized Tests That Inform Women’s Heart Care
At Saffron and Sage, we use diagnostic tools that go beyond standard exams. These include:
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein to detect early inflammation
Advanced lipid panels to assess LDL particle density and cardiovascular risk
Hormone mapping to evaluate shifts in estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol
Micronutrient testing to identify nutritional deficiencies that affect vascular performance
Glucose and insulin variability to uncover early metabolic imbalance
Together, these tools create a personalized cardiovascular risk profile that allows for earlier intervention and better outcomes.
How Holistic Therapies Integrate With Diagnostic Insight
Data is only valuable when paired with action. At Saffron and Sage, we use diagnostic insight to guide a therapy plan specific to each woman’s physiology and goals.
Acupuncture improves circulation and reduces inflammation. Somatic therapy reduces sympathetic nervous system load and improves heart rate variability. Nutrition therapy supports endothelial function and balances metabolic drivers.
This is not generic advice. Each care plan is shaped by lab results, personal history, and current lifestyle challenges.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors Unique to Women
Some risk factors are more common in women and are often missed in conventional care models. These include:
Hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause
Chronic sleep disruption
Autoimmune conditions that affect vascular function
Stress from caregiving or emotional burden
Pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes
Personalized testing helps reveal how these factors are impacting cardiovascular health, often before symptoms arise. Targeted therapies are then designed to reduce damage and support resilience.
The Science Behind Prevention
The American Heart Association estimates that up to 80 percent of cardiovascular disease is preventable. Yet many women only receive cardiovascular care once symptoms are present. True prevention requires early testing, clear insight, and timely intervention.
At Saffron and Sage, our model is built around prevention. By identifying subtle changes in hormones, blood sugar, vascular function, and inflammatory markers, we help our clients take control of their health long before emergency care is required.
The Future of Women’s Heart Care
Women need more than basic screenings to protect cardiovascular wellbeing. They need insight that accounts for hormonal patterns, stress physiology, sleep quality, and metabolic shifts.
Saffron and Sage is redefining women’s health in San Diego. We combine science-based diagnostics with holistic therapies to create care plans rooted in data and aligned with each client’s life.
Take Charge of Your Heart Health With Saffron & Sage
If you are ready to take control of your cardiovascular health, schedule a consultation with Saffron and Sage today. Our integrative care team will walk you through personalized diagnostics and create a therapy plan designed specifically for you.
To schedule a consultation or learn more about personalized heart care, call us at 619-933-2340 today.