When I was growing up, heart disease wasn’t something women around me talked about. We talked about weight, blood sugar, maybe stress but not our hearts.
That silence cost us more than we realized.
It took the loss of someone close just a few years older than me to wake me up. She’d been told for months her chest pain was “just anxiety.” She believed it. We all did.
Until one night, her heart stopped.
That was the moment I understood: heart disease doesn’t treat us all the same.
The Hidden Crisis: Why Women of Color Face Greater Risk
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. But for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian women, it’s more than just a statistic — it’s a growing epidemic hidden behind stereotypes, underdiagnoses, and systemic bias.
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Black women are nearly 60% more likely to have high blood pressure than white women.
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Latina women often face higher cholesterol and diabetes rates, yet fewer receive preventive screenings.
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Native American women endure some of the highest rates of cardiovascular death due to limited healthcare access.
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Asian American women, frequently overlooked in studies, are showing rising rates of heart disease linked to changing diets and underreported stress.
These numbers don’t come from biology alone. They come from unequal systems, misdiagnosed symptoms, and unheard voices.
When Heart Disease Doesn’t Look Like “Heart Disease”
For decades, most research focused on how heart disease affects men.
As a result, when women experience heart problems, they’re often misread — even by professionals.
Here’s what heart disease really looks like in women:
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Shortness of breath that seems unrelated to activity
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Sudden fatigue that lingers
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Pain in the back, jaw, or neck instead of the chest
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Lightheadedness, nausea, or pressure that’s easy to dismiss
Many of us shrug it off as “just stress,” “too much work,” or “I didn’t sleep well.”
But these are red flags — not inconveniences.
And the reality is even worse for women of color who are more likely to be told their symptoms are “in their heads.” That delay in diagnosis can be deadly.
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The Turning Point: Learning to Advocate for Myself
My wake-up call came when I began to feel that same crushing fatigue — the kind you can’t sleep off.
I asked for tests, but the responses were vague. “You’re probably just tired.” “You’re young.” “Try yoga.”
I did try — but I also insisted. I asked for a complete heart panel, for inflammatory markers, and for blood pressure monitoring.
And that insistence may have saved my life.
Today, I live differently. Not in fear — but in awareness.
Four Steps That Changed My Heart Health
1. I Stopped Apologizing for Asking Questions
Women — especially women of color — are often conditioned to be polite, even in doctor’s offices.
Now, I speak up. I bring my family history. I ask for clear answers. I request tests that many physicians don’t offer unless you insist — like hs-CRP, ApoB, and Lipoprotein(a).
Your health is worth being “persistent.”
2. I Reconnected Food with Healing
Nutrition isn’t about dieting; it’s about healing inflammation.
I began eating the foods my ancestors used — beans, greens, berries, turmeric, ginger, and garlic.
I cut back on processed oils and sugar.
And I rediscovered joy in home-cooked meals rooted in culture, not calorie counts.
3. I Found Movement That Feeds My Soul
I stopped chasing punishment-based workouts and started dancing again.
Walking, lifting, yoga — all of it counts. What matters is consistency, not intensity.
4. I Treat Stress Like a Medical Condition
Because it is.
The pressure of existing in spaces that question your worth or ignore your pain takes a toll.
I meditate, journal, rest, and say “no” unapologetically. Protecting your peace is a form of heart care.
Systemic Change: What Needs to Shift Beyond the Individual
It’s not enough to tell women to eat better and move more. The problem goes deeper.
We need a healthcare system that listens, not just prescribes.
We need clinical research that reflects all races and backgrounds.
We need public health campaigns that represent women of color — not just in translation, but in truth.
And we need to stop labeling women’s pain as “overreaction.”
The data is clear: when women of color are taken seriously, they survive more often.
At Ravoke, we believe health shouldn’t depend on the color of your skin or the zip code you live in.
Every woman deserves equal care, equal respect, and equal chances at a healthy life.
Breaking the Cycle of Silence
Heart disease isn’t only about arteries — it’s about awareness.
For generations, many women didn’t talk about their health until it was too late. We were told to be strong, to endure, to take care of everyone else first.
That silence ends now.
We talk.
We ask questions.
We share our stories.
Because every time a woman speaks about her health, another learns to listen to her body sooner.
If You’re Feeling Off — Don’t Wait
If you’ve been told you’re “fine” but something inside you says otherwise, listen to that voice.
If you’ve been ignoring your exhaustion, chest tightness, or strange pain, make the appointment.
And if you’ve ever thought, “I’m too young for heart disease,” remember — that’s what most women say before they’re diagnosed.
Heart disease doesn’t care about age, but awareness can change everything.
Final Thought
Your heart carries more than just blood — it carries your legacy.
It beats for your children, your community, your ancestors, and the women who never got the chance to speak up.
Take care of it like it’s sacred — because it is.
So, the next time you feel something isn’t right, don’t minimize it. Don’t wait. Don’t stay silent.
You deserve to live, love, and thrive — with a strong, healthy heart leading the way.