The daily challenges of living—and coping—with a chronic and progressive invisible illness.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide. Yet most people are still unaware that heart disease is not just a man's problem. Carolyn Thomas, a heart attack survivor herself, is on a mission to educate women about their heart health. Based on her popular
Heart Sisters
blog, which has attracted more than 10 million views from readers in 190 countries,
A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease
combines personal experience and medical knowledge to help women learn how to understand and manage a catastrophic diagnosis.
In
, Thomas explains
• how to recognize the early signs of a heart attack• why women often delay seeking treatment—and how to overcome that impulse• the link between pregnancy complications and future heart disease• why so many women with heart disease are misdiagnosed—and how to help yourself get an accurate diagnosis• the importance of cardiac rehabilitation in lowering mortality risk• what to expect during your recovery from a heart attack• how the surreal process of coping with heart disease may affect your daily life• methods for treating heart disease–related depression without drugs
Equal parts memoir about a misdiagnosed heart attack, guide to the predictable stages of heart disease—from grief to resilience—and patient-friendly translation of important science-based findings on women's unique heart issues, this book is an essential read. Whether you're a freshly diagnosed patient, a woman who's been living with heart disease for years, or a practitioner who cares about women's health,
will help you feel less alone and advocate for better health care.