These five personal accounts describe how cardiovascular disease showed up differently in women — from pregnancy-related heart failure to heart attack and stroke — and how each woman navigated diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and advocacy.
Anjellica Davis, 37
After the birth of her third son in 2022, Anjellica expected the usual postpartum tiredness but instead had severe shortness of breath, swelling, trouble lying flat, and overwhelming exhaustion. Physicians diagnosed postpartum cardiomyopathy, a rare heart failure that followed childbirth. Her condition deteriorated rapidly; she was listed for transplant in November and received a donor heart about six months after delivery. The recovery was long and difficult. The experience led her to pursue nursing with a focus on cardiovascular care and to speak up about maternal heart health. Her advice: pay attention to atypical symptoms during pregnancy and after childbirth — severe breathlessness, profound fatigue, dizziness, nausea, swelling, back or jaw pain, or a persistent sense that something is wrong should never be ignored.
Lori Sepich, 64
Lori’s cardiac history began with severe hypertension at 17. For years she didn’t take her medications consistently and dismissed warning signs. On Easter Sunday 2005 she felt chest pressure, pain radiating down both arms, nausea, and cold sweats; the next day she went to the ER and learned she’d already had a heart attack. Six stents were placed. In 2018 she had a second attack from a 100% blockage in the left anterior descending artery (the “widowmaker”). Fear of losing her job delayed care, but that event prompted a change in how she prioritized her health. Lori now educates others about how men and women may present differently — extreme chest pain and cold sweats are common in men, while women often experience fatigue, vague neck/back/jaw discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, indigestion, or a general feeling of being unwell.
Alex Wilson-Garza, 28
Alex, a healthy emergency nurse, suddenly developed dizziness, slurred speech, and facial drooping during lunch. Her husband recognized stroke symptoms and rushed her to the hospital, where imaging showed a clot in the right middle cerebral artery. She received clot-busting medication and a mechanical thrombectomy and was discharged days later with no lasting deficits, returning to work four weeks after the stroke. The exact cause remained unclear; hormonal birth control may have played a role. Alex’s story highlights that strokes can affect young, otherwise healthy people. She emphasizes knowing FAST (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911) but also warns that FAST can miss other presentations, especially in women. Additional signs to watch for include sudden dizziness, balance or coordination problems, vision changes, and abrupt severe headaches.
Migdalia Rodriguez, 42
After moving to Tampa and planning to travel, Migdalia developed a persistent cough, extreme fatigue, and rapid weight gain that was often dismissed as stress or asthma. A friend recorded her nighttime wheeze and brought it to a doctor, which led to testing that revealed end-stage heart failure. She had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy dating back to age 17 but had not kept up with follow-up care. By 39 her ejection fraction was about 10%. She ultimately received a heart transplant in February 2025. Genetic testing identified a cardiomyopathy-linked gene, so her family members were advised to get tested. Migdalia cautions that women’s cardiac symptoms can be nonclassic — jaw pain, nausea, extreme fatigue, breathlessness, and back pain — and that women are sometimes dismissed more quickly than men. Her counsel: trust your instincts, persist until someone listens, and seek another provider if necessary.
Shanelle Dawes, 44
At 35, Shanelle was active and healthy but one evening experienced intense nausea, sweating, and chest pain, which she initially assumed was a stomach bug. After unexplained rapid weight gain and recurrent chest pain during exercise, she went to the ER and was diagnosed with a heart attack. She required emergency open-heart surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting) to address multiple blockages. Recovery was challenging, and community support played an important role in her healing. Shanelle urges women not to normalize persistent exhaustion or to ignore unexplained symptoms like sudden nausea, unexplained sweating, severe fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or rapid weight gain. If something feels serious, call 911 — it’s better to be evaluated and turn out to be fine than to miss a life-threatening condition.
Common themes and practical advice
– Women’s heart disease can look different than men’s: aside from chest pain, women often have subtle or nonclassic symptoms such as extreme fatigue, indigestion-like nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, jaw/neck/back discomfort, unexplained sweating, fainting, or rapid weight gain.
– Stroke can affect young people and present with more than the classic FAST signs; sudden vision changes, balance problems, coordination loss, or an abrupt severe headache are also red flags.
– Trust your body and keep advocating for care. If your symptoms persist or feel serious and you’re dismissed, seek a second opinion or urgent evaluation.
Monitoring heart health
Know your key numbers and risk factors and discuss them with your clinician: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body weight/BMI, smoking status, physical activity, diet, and sleep. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 is a useful framework to reduce risk. Manage chronic conditions, adhere to prescribed medicines, and make healthy lifestyle choices.
When to seek emergency care
Call 911 for sudden chest pain with pressure or spreading pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, sudden weakness or numbness (especially on one side), slurred speech, facial droop, sudden vision changes, loss of balance, or an abrupt, severe headache. Early intervention saves lives and limits lasting damage.
These five stories show how cardiovascular disease can present unpredictably in women and how timely recognition, persistence, and appropriate care can make a life-changing difference.
