Alberta health experts aim to close gaps in women's health research

Her electrocardiogram appeared normal, but 27-year-old Saige Godberson-Parlin — a registered nurse, marathoner and Pilates instructor — still pressed the specialist for a referral.

In December 2023, cardiologists at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton confirmed that it was a heart condition causing the stabbing pains in her chest for the past year.

Godberson-Parlin's condition, ANOCA or angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease, was identified by the same Dr. Kevin Bainey who had ended her mother's decade-long search that resulted in a similar diagnosis.

Nurses comforted a sobbing Godberson-Parlin, who explained they were actually happy tears.

"Because I've spent almost a year advocating and fighting so hard and trying to convince myself that nothing is wrong or just the mental toll it takes on you," Godberson-Parlin, now 29, said in an interview Wednesday.

"And to finally have that validation that the advocating was worth it, that it did result in something — it was almost such a relief."

Godberson-Parlin's case is among many that highlight the gaps in women's health research.

It's a big reason health-care experts are happy to see the Alberta government's recent declaration making March Women's Health Research Month.

"It really matters now to be doing women's health research in light of what's going on in the United States and the restrictions on women's health," said Colleen Norris, a professor and associate dean of research at University of Alberta's faculty of nursing.

"But it's also a time where women are really starting to say 'We need to know about our care through menopause and perimenopause.'"

Little research on 'last reproductive stage' 

One area of focus for Norris is a woman's last reproductive stage, before perimenopause, where "your estrogens and progesterones are doing this crazy thing."

She said emotionally-based symptoms like anger, sadness and brain fog, without changes to menstruation, often lead family physicians to think it's solely related to stress.

Norris said this cortisol-inducing stage of life which often involves career and family obligations, combined with hormonal imbalances is a "double whammy" on estrogen levels which significantly impacts heart and brain health.

"All of these factors are happening to women and we have no research on it," said Norris, who is also the chair of women's health research at the Alberta Women's Health Foundation (AWHF), a branch of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.

"We need women to know about it."

In 2024, Norris launched a registry, which has so far collected the data of 300 Alberta women. 

Her research examines sex and gender factors and their impact on heart health, such as complications in pregnancy associated with early heart disease.

Norris is also conducting studies around stress reduction through activities such as yoga and dance therapy.

According to the AWHF, women experience 75 per cent of what's known as "medically unexplained" symptoms and 75 per cent of adverse drug reactions. The AWHF also notes that heart disease kills more women than men every year in Canada and 50 per cent of women's symptoms of heart attack and stroke are misdiagnosed.

'Support they deserve'

"Women's health has long been underserved, and Alberta's government is committed to changing that," Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's minister of health, wrote in a statement to CBC News.

Recent provincial investments include $10 million to develop a province-wide midwifery strategy and another $10 million to create a grant through AWHF supporting research on women's common health conditions.

"Through targeted investments in research, recruitment, and specialized care, we are working to improve health outcomes for women across the province," LaGrange said.

"Declaring Women's Health Research Month reinforces our commitment to closing the gender health gap and ensuring the more than two million women and girls in Alberta receive the support they deserve."

After finding the right medication, Godberson-Parlin ran a half-marathon and resumed teaching Pilates.

She's also made it her mission to increase awareness about women's heart health.

"It's amazing how many women have reached out since I've been able to share my story," Godberson-Parlin said.

"It's sad that there's so many women who are experiencing it but I'm glad that it's being able to validate what they're feeling."