At NitzaMD, we often say that heart disease doesn’t discriminate, but many women still believe it only happens to “older” people or those who “look” like cardiac patients. Jodi Harter was in her early 40s—active, young, and by all accounts, the picture of health—when her heart began to race.

Jodi’s story highlights a dangerous hurdle many women face: the guilt of being sick. When her heart began beating “funky,” she didn’t immediately panic about her health. Instead, she worried about her job. “I felt really bad about having to leave during regular business hours,” Jodi recalled in our latest podcast episode.

Think about that for a moment. In the middle of a life-threatening cardiac event, Jodi’s first instinct was to apologize for the inconvenience her absence might cause her coworkers. She felt that nobody could take her place at the office, nearly prioritizing a work deadline over her own survival. As Dr. Alvarez notes in the episode, it is “insane” how often women try to “power through” an emergency to avoid being a burden.

For many women in Clermont, this “duty-first” mindset is the biggest barrier to care. As we’ve explored in our previous series, looking healthy on the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s happening on the inside.

Heart disease has no “look,” and an emergency doesn’t wait for a convenient time. Whether you are 40 or 80, your symptoms deserve to be heard immediately. To truly be the CEO of your own health, you have to give yourself permission to put your life first—even during “regular business hours.”

Don’t let your age fool you—heart disease doesn’t wait. Schedule your baseline evaluation in Clermont at NitzaMD.com.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for education only and does not replace medical advice. Seek emergency care for severe symptoms.